Guards Acquitted in Inmate Death -- Inside America's Correctional Facilities

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Date Posted: 18:02:31 02/16/02 Sat
Author: MAJ
Subject: Guards Acquitted in Inmate Death

The Associated Press
Feb. 15 2002 6:54 p.m.
Starke, Fla. (AP)-Three prison guards were acquitted Friday on charges they stomped an inmate to death in his cell to keep him from exposing brutality behind bars.

The jury deliberated for 3 1/2 hours before returning its verdict in the murder trial of Capt. Timothy Thornton, 36, and Sgts. J. D. Griffis and Charles Brown, both 28.

The former Florida State Prison officers hugged their attorney after the verdicts were read.

All were charged with second-degree murder in the July 17, 1999, slaying of inmate Frank Valdes, 36, who was found dead after what prosecutors allege were two violent confrontations with guards.

Valdes had broken ribs and other fractures and internal injuries, and his upper body was covered with boot prints. Prosecutors said he was beaten to keep him from talking to reporters about mistreatment of inmates.

The guards were also accused of conspiracy to commit aggravated battery, battery on an inmate, and official misconduct.

Defense attorneys had argued that some of Valdes' injuries were caused by his climbing the bars in his cell and throwing himselc onto the floor and his bunk.

Before leaving the courtroom, the jurors were shown, one by one, photos of inmates who had testified against the guards.

"There is your reasonable doubt", defense attorney Gloria Fletcher said during closing arguments.

But two medical examiners who examined Valdes' body determined that he was stomped to death.

"Once you get this many rib fractures, you can't breathe," Dr. Ronald Wright, a former South Florida medical examiner, testified.

Defense lawyers also claimed that some of the five corrections officers to be tried later may have been responsible for killing Valdes.

"The murderers are here." McMahon said.

Valdes was sentenced to death for the 1987 murder of Fred Giffis, 40. He was not related to the defendant Jason Griffis.

Fred Griffis, a corrections officer at Glades Correctional Institution, was shot to death when Valdes and another man attempted to free an inmate in a prison van outside a West Palm Beach doctor's office.

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