Former Officers Plead Guilty in Inmate Death

Two former West Virginia correctional officers, Johnathan Walters and Corey Snyder, pleaded guilty to federal civil rights violations related to the 2022 death of inmate Quantez Burks at Southern Regional Jail. Burks, who died less than a day after being booked, was beaten and pepper-sprayed by officers in retaliation for attempting to leave his assigned pod. The officers admitted to using excessive force in a non-monitored interview room, where Burks was restrained and posed no threat. They each face up to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This case has highlighted issues at the jail, contributing to a broader scrutiny of its conditions and the treatment of inmates, with several former officers already pleading guilty. Sentencing for the guilty parties will occur in the coming months, with trials scheduled for others involved.