Six former Mississippi law enforcement officers who were convicted of torturing two Black men will be sentenced in state court Wednesday after already receiving federal prison terms ranging from 10 to 40 years. The officers, who attacked Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker in 2023, pleaded guilty to state charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to hinder prosecution. The brutal attack drew outrage from top law enforcement officials and led to federal and state charges against the former officers.
The former lawmen admitted to breaking into a home without a warrant and torturing Jenkins and Parker in an hourslong attack that included beatings, stun gun uses, and assaults with a sex toy before Jenkins was shot in the mouth. The terrifying incident began with a racist call for violence against the victims, leading to a coordinated assault by the officers. The officers planned a coverup, including planting drugs on Jenkins and Parker, and intimidated other officers to keep quiet about the incident.
The defendants include five former Rankin County sheriff’s deputies and a former police officer from the city of Richland who was off duty during the assault. All six men pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the attacks on Jenkins and Parker, with some admitting to home invasion during the incident. As the state sentencing hearing approaches, the victims’ attorney hopes it will be a test for state prosecutors and the judge, as Mississippi has historically lagged behind in addressing racial crimes and police brutality against Black individuals.
In federal court, the former officers expressed remorse for their actions and apologized to Jenkins and Parker, with some of their attorneys arguing that the officers were caught up in a culture of corruption within the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Bryan Bailey had announced the firing of the officers last June, claiming they had acted on their own, but Jenkins and Parker have called for his resignation and filed a civil lawsuit against the department seeking $400 million in damages. The officers will serve their state and federal prison terms concurrently and will be housed in federal penitentiaries.
Attorney General Merrick Garland and other top law enforcement officials condemned the officers’ actions, calling it a heinous attack on citizens they had sworn to protect. The episode’s details were reminiscent of Mississippi’s history of racist atrocities, further highlighting the need for justice and accountability in cases of police brutality and racial violence. The sentencing of the former officers in state court will be a crucial step in addressing racial crimes and police misconduct in Mississippi, with the victims’ attorney emphasizing the importance of holding the officers accountable for their actions.
