Former Deputy Indicted for Inmate Civil Rights Violations

Matthew Carey, a former deputy with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, has been indicted on three counts related to civil rights violations, including conspiracy and depriving an inmate of his constitutional rights. The indictment alleges that in March 2022, Carey disclosed sensitive information about a pretrial detainee's sex offense charges to another inmate, which led to an assault. Prosecutors claim Carey had no legitimate reason to share the information and failed to protect the victim from the foreseeable attack, resulting in serious bodily injury. The indictment was unsealed following Carey's arrest by federal agents, and each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Testimonies indicate that Carey’s actions directly incited the assault, with one inmate interpreting Carey's gestures as an endorsement to attack. Federal prosecutors emphasize the serious implications of such abuse of power within the corrections system.