GULFPORT -- A disgraced jailer is facing life behind bars and eight of his co-workers have copped a plea with the federal government, all of which District Attorney Cono Caranna considers a "successful prosecution."
A jury found Ryan Teel guilty Thursday on three federal counts of depriving Harrison County jail inmates of their civil rights. Two of the counts involved the fatal booking-room beating of Jessie Lee Williams.
"That is the federal version of murder," Caranna said in a phone interview late Thursday night. "When you have eight (guilty) pleas and a conviction for murder, I think that's a successful prosecution."
Co-defendant Rick Gaston, the former jailer who the feds believed devised the conspiracy to abuse inmates, was found not guilty. Caranna said his office will review the jail investigation to determine whether additional action - trying the defendants in state court - will be taken.
"The jury has spoken on these issues, but the investigation will be evaluated to decide whether action will be taken by the state," he said. "These are very difficult cases and I think this demonstrates some of the difficulties."
Caranna has been under intense political heat in the 18 months since Williams was beaten in the jail's booking room and died at Memorial Hospital at Gulfport. Almost six months went by before anyone was officially charged in the killing.
Caranna said his office decided to give U.S. attorneys the lead role in the prosecution because federal laws are stronger. What's more, in a state court there was no guarantee Teel would have been tried for murder.
"That was my impression all along is that under state law, charging (Teel) with murder... and because of his position, he would have been entitled to a manslaughter instruction, instead (of murder)," Caranna said. "In state court, we had a greater likelihood of coming out with a lighter conviction and that was the reason we elected to go with the federal court."
Like Caranna, Sheriff George H. Payne Jr. has been the subject of public scrutiny since Williams' death. The day after the Aug. 6 trial began, Payne lost his campaign for a third term when voters gave him less than 20 percent of the Republican vote.
When reached by phone around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, and asked for reaction to the verdict, Payne said, "What verdict?"
When told the verdict in question was the one concerning the beating death of an inmate, he said, "I don't know what you're talking about, son," adding he had not yet been "officially" informed of the jury's decision.
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