Former supervisory state corrections officer Kenan Lister was sentenced on Wednesday to two years in prison after he plead guilty to beating an inmate and violating his civil rights, officials stated.
In April 2022, Lister pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law for using unlawful force on an inmate and one count of being deliberately indifferent to the same inmate’s medical needs.
“When correctional officers abuse their authority and harm inmates, it not only violates our civil rights laws, it undermines the criminal justice system as a whole,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “The FBI makes it a priority to bring to justice any law enforcement officer who violates the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect.”
On Aug. 30, 2019, Lister assaulted an inmate in a holding cell at the Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility in Hartsville, Tennessee, according to authorities.
At the time, Lister was on duty as the facility’s security threat group coordinator. While the inmate was sitting calmly in a holding cell, Lister punched the inmate in the head, knocking him to the ground.
Lister then kicked, punched, and struck the inmate multiple times in his head, chest, and torso after he was on the ground and not resisting.
The assault fractured the inmate’s ribs and punctured his lung.
After the assault, Lister knew that the inmate had serious medical needs. Despite this knowledge, Lister failed to provide medical care to the inmate or obtain medical care from others.
Instead, Lister left the inmate locked in a holding cell and filed a report that omitted any mention of his assault.
The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda J. Klopf for the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Michael J. Songer of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.