Second ex-MS 'Goon Squad' officer sentenced for torturing 2 Black men. See for how long

Jeffrey Middleton was the second former Rankin County deputy to be sentenced Tuesday in connection to a case regarding the abuse and torture of two Black men.

Middleton, the alleged leader of the "Goon Squad," was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Tom Lee in federal court Tuesday afternoon.

"I have no hesitation in concluding that your actions call for service at the top of the guideline range,” Lee said in the courtroom.

During Middleton’s sentencing, the defense raised concerns over whether Middleton was as “copiable” as the five other officers who participated in the Jan. 24, 2023, abuse of Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker.

The officers involved in the incident were five former Rankin County Sheriff's deputies: Brett McAlpin, Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Jeffrey Middleton and Daniel Opdyke. The sixth former police officer is Joshua Hartfield from the city of Richland.

Early Tuesday morning, former Rankin County deputy Hunter Elward was the first "Goon Squad" member to be sentenced by Lee. Elward received 20 years in federal prison. The four other former law enforcement officers who plead guilty to subjecting Jenkins and Parker to acts of racist torture are set to be sentenced Wednesday and Thursday, March 21.

E. Carlos Tanner, Middleton’s attorney, called to the witness stand a United States probation officer who oversaw filling out Middleton’s presentence investigation report. Tanner had objected to the findings of the probation officer, alleging she did not follow the proper protocol that her job required.

Tanner presented to the courtroom a two-page spreadsheet that described various situations the six former officers partook in, from the start of the incident until the end. Tanner would then check a box next to the proper former officer or officers' name who fit the acts.

As Tanner reached the final question of the spreadsheets, he pointed out to the courtroom that Middleton only had “a few” marks by his name, thus determining Middleton was “less culpable” than his counterparts in the abuse against the two men.

Tanner never condoned Middleton’s actions stating, what Middleton and the participating officer did “was wrong,” “heinous” and “atrocious.” But stated that Middleton shouldn’t have to “take a whopping for something he didn’t do.”

Judge 'egregious, despicable': First of ex-MS 'Goon Squad' officers sentenced over 2 tortured Black men. See for how long

While Tanner’s tactic drew some positive and negative reactions from the crowd of 40 or more attendees with some stating, “He’s good,” Tanner was unsuccessful in convincing the judge.

Judge Lee denied Tanner’s objection.

“During Mr. Elward’s sentence hearing, he expressed what I believe was genuine remorse for his actions. It might be acknowledged that he was fully accountable for his actions. (Elward) like Mr. Opdyke traced his involvement in the brutality inflicted on the victims in this case and also to other victims, to you and McAlpin,” Lee said to the courtroom.

Following the sentencings for the two former Mississippi law enforcement officers, the Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland:

“These defendants will spend 20 years and 17.5 years in prison for their heinous attack on citizens they had sworn an oath to protect,” Garland said. “These defendants kicked in the door of a home where two Black men were residing, handcuffed and arrested them without probable cause, called them racial slurs, and punched, kicked, tased, and assaulted them. After one of the defendants fired his gun in the mouth of one of the victims, breaking his jaw, the defendants gathered outside to come up with a cover story as the victim lay bleeding on the floor. The Justice Department will hold accountable officers who violate constitutional rights, and in so doing, betray the public trust.”

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Second ex-Rankin Co. deputy, Jeffrey Middleton, sentenced to 17.5 years