Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Two Alabama inmates who reported being beaten while handcuffed by a prison guard have sued him and other prison employees, saying they conspired to conceal the assault and violated their rights.
In February 2019, Cortney Rolley and Christopher Hampton were beaten by Elmore Correctional Facility Sgt. Ulysses Oliver Jr., who faces up to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to assaulting the pair, AL.Com reported.
Rolley and Hampton filed a lawsuit this month against Oliver and other prison employees stating they violated the men’s constitutional rights and conspired to conceal the violations, according to the media outlet.
Rolley lost consciousness, defecated on himself and was later hospitalized with a concussion, the lawsuit said. Hampton suffered a broken wrist, and multiple contusions, the suit added.
The lawsuit said several employees watched the assault and did nothing. It said the men were later threatened if they told anyone about the beatings.
The men remain imprisoned and each has tentative parole consideration dates in October.
Rolley is serving a 30-year sentence for the abduction of two women in 2001, and Hampton was sentenced to 33 years in 2000 for assault and violating sex offender registration requirements, according to authorities.
Department of Corrections spokeswoman Samantha Rose declined to comment on the pending litigation.
It wasn’t immediately known if Oliver had an attorney who could comment.
The men’s attorney, Eric Artrip, said the two fear retaliation because of the lawsuit and criminal prosecution of the prison employees.
Two other officers besides Oliver have entered pleas in connection with the incident.
The other two officers pleaded guilty to failing to intervene in the beating. Additionally, a lieutenant also was indicted in September 2019 on accusations of failing to stop Oliver and of making false statement during the investigation.
Further court dates weren’t immediately scheduled.