WASHINGTON—A former Stone County Arkansas Deputy and jail administrator along with two former inmates who assaulted two other prisoners were indicted on charges of conspiracy to violate the rights of inmates at the jail and deprivation of rights under color of law, the Justice Department announced last week.
Randel Branscum, 54, and two former inmates at the Stone County Jail, Matthew McConniel, 42, and James Beckham, 34, were named in indictments unsealed last week, officials said.
The indictment alleges that around Sept. 19, 2011, Branscum conspired with McConniel and Beckham to have inmates at the Stone County Jail physically assaulted. Branscum, in his capacity as jail administrator, ordered two inmates be transferred into McConniel and Beckham’s cell.
Once the inmate transfer had been completed, McConniel and Beckham assaulted one of the inmates, causing bodily injury to him, according to authorities.
If convicted of both counts in the indictment, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison.
Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.