A federal grand jury in Mississippi returned an unsealed indictment Thursday, charging two former Mississippi Department of Corrections officials with deprivation of rights under color of law.
According to court documents, Jessica Hill, a correctional officer at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF), and Nicole Moore, a CMCF case manager, used excessive force against an inmate, including using dangerous weapons and resulting in bodily injury.
On July 11, 2019, Hill and Moore, while aiding and abetting each other and others, willfully deprived L.C. of the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.
The indictment alleges that Hill struck L.C. with a canister and punched L.C., and that Moore kicked L.C., while L.C. was not resisting.
The defendants each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison if convicted. The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The FBI Jackson Field Office is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda Haynes for the Southern District of Mississippi and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.