Former corrections officer pleads guilty to civil rights violation in fatal attack on inmate

WEST VIRGINIA (AP) – A former officer has pleaded guilty to civil rights violations after a man died in custody.

In March 2022, authorities booked Quantez Burks into the Southern Regional Jail on a charge of wanton endangerment.

According to court documents, Burks tried to push the officer to leave his apartment building.

The officers took Burks to an interrogation room, where they allegedly assaulted him while he was still in handcuffs.

As part of a plea deal, Mark Holdren admitted to conspiring with other officers to beat Burks in retaliation.

Burks was enrolled at SRJ less than a day before his death.

Holdren admitted his role in the attack, saying he knew there were no surveillance cameras in the interrogation room.

In addition, he admitted that he knew that it was not acceptable for officers to use such force to punish prisoners and persons in custody.

Court documents show Holdren knew officers were bringing inmates and court detainees into an interrogation room to punish them for misbehavior without being caught on video.

Holdren faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Related