Miami-Dade Regional Juvenile Detention officer was charged Monday with encouraging juvenile inmates to beat another inmate along with offering rewards for assaulting the victim, according to officials.
The 17-year-old juvenile victim later died as a result of being beaten to death by other inmates, according to officials.
According to the indictment, the victim, Elrod Revolte, was taken from the juvenile detention center to Holtz Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida. On Aug. 31, 2015, Revolte was pronounced dead due to bodily injuries suffered during the attack, according to authorities.
The officer, Antwant Lenard Johnson, 35, of Miami-Dade County, was charged with conspiracy to violate Revolte.’s civil rights under color of law, which resulted in the victim’s death and deprivation of his civil rights, under color of law, which resulted in bodily injury and Revolte’s death.
If convicted, Johnson facing up to life in prison for each charge.
“The Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute corrections officers who exploit their position of power and violate the civil rights of individuals in their custody,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division.
“Violations of civil rights by government officials cannot be tolerated as it undermines the public’s trust,” said Robert F. Lasky, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami. “The FBI is committed to working with our partners to safeguard the civil rights of all.”
Revolte had been arrested and was subsequently taken to the JDC on Aug. 28, 2015. He was being detained pending further order of the State Court and had not been convicted of the crime for which he had been arrested.
The indictment alleges that Johnson operated a commonly utilized bounty system in order to help ensure obedience and officer respect at the JDC. Johnson encouraged and induced juvenile detainees, in exchange for rewards and privileges, to forcibly assault Revolte.
In exchange for attacking Revolte., Johnson rewarded the juveniles with extra recreational time and snacks.
As a result of being held at the JDC, witnessing events at the facility, and in some cases being actual victims of the bounties, the juveniles were aware of the bounty culture.
They knew that they would not be punished or disciplined by Johnson, but in fact rewarded, if they followed his directives.
The indictment alleges that, on Aug. 30, 2015, Johnson worked in Module 9 at the JDC, during the 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. shift.
Based on Revolte.’s statements and behavior during dinner at the JDC cafeteria, Johnson communicated to juveniles that he wanted them to forcibly assault Revolte. Various juveniles agreed, which caused Revolte. to fear for his immediate safety and stand away from the other juveniles prior to, and while returning, from the JDC cafeteria to Module 9, according to officials.
According to the indictment, Johnson directed juveniles to delay the attack on Revolte until they all returned to Module 9.
Upon returning to Module 9 with the juveniles, Johnson promptly walked out of view of Revolte and the other juveniles.
At the same time, a juvenile punched Revolte in the face as he attempted to sit down in a chair. Numerous other juveniles immediately joined the attack and punched and kicked Revolte, continuing their assault, even when Revolte. fell to the ground.
The indictment further alleges that after Revolte was escorted out of Module 9 to the JDC medical department, Johnson promptly released the juveniles in Module 9 from their cells and allowed them to watch television as a reward and privilege.
Johnson also bumped fists with the juvenile who initiated the attack on Revolte. Johnson later caused certain Module 9 juveniles to receive snacks as a reward and privilege for participating in the attack on Revolte.
Johnson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.