A former Tennessee correctional officer was sentenced last week to two years in prison for his involvement in a staff assault of an inmate, according to officials.

Jonathan York, a former Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) Officer at the Northwest County Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, was sentenced April 30.

During the federal investigation, six former TDOC officers ultimately pleaded guilty to federal offenses arising out of the assault of the inmate and the cover-up that followed.

York is the second of the six to be sentenced. 

“This sentencing should be a reminder that wearing a badge does not make one above the law,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Foster of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “Law enforcement officers or any other government employees who abuse their authority and use unlawful force will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted. The FBI will always work to bring to justice those who violate the civil rights of others.”

On June 9, 2020, York pleaded guilty to using unlawful force while acting under the color of law and conspiring to cover up the incident.

With his guilty plea, York admitted that, on Feb. 1, 2019, he and other correctional officers entered the cell of R.T., an inmate in the mental health unit.

Inside the cell, York asked a fellow officer to cover the surveillance camera and he then punched R.T.  Although R.T. did not pose a threat to the officers, York punched R.T. approximately 30 times, according to officials.

York then stood by and watched as two other correctional officers punched R.T. After the assault of R.T., York spoke with other correctional officers and they conspired to tell a false cover story about what happened to R.T.