News - Harrison County jail trial

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007

Jail abuse case not over yet

Prosecutor asks judge to seal exhibits

GULFPORT -- The federal government's request to seal exhibits from the trial of two former Harrison County jailers elicited an unexpected announcement: The investigation of inmate abuse is not over.

The news came Thursday evening in Hattiesburg after a jury found former sheriff's Capt. Rick Gaston not guilty in the conspiracy case and convicted former booking officer Ryan Teel on three criminal counts. Teel's conviction includes the fatal beating of inmate Jessie Lee Williams Jr., whose death in February 2006 led to a federal civil rights case prosecuted by Justice Department attorneys from Washington.

Guirola was about to release a copy of the videotaped beating of Williams to the Sun Herald on Thursday night when federal prosecutor John Cotton Richmond asked him to seal the exhibits. Richmond said others may be indicted. The judge said he believes in the public's right to know, but directed the government to file a motion to state why the exhibits should not be made public.

Resolution of the trial sets the stage for sentencing Teel and the eight former jailers who accepted plea agreements. Four of the eight testified at the nine-day trial. Some of them and others gave damaging statements about current and former jail employees, raising the question of who else might be charged.

Teel and the others will learn their fates in less than three months. Teel, held without bond, will be sentenced Nov. 1. He faces two life sentences and up to 10 years for conviction on three counts. Those with plea bargains face penalties of 10 to 20 years, but could receive less time based, in part, on their cooperation with the investigation.

The eight who pleaded guilty within a span of one year have remained free on unsecured bonds. Guirola delayed their sentencing pending the trial. On Friday, he set their sentencing for Nov. 5.

Regina Rhodes was among four with plea bargains to testify and was the first to come forward in August 2006. Daniel Evans and Karl Stolze were set for trial with Teel and Gaston, but changed their pleas a week before the trial.

The others who await sentencing are Dedri Caldwell, Morgan Thompson, Jeffery Priest, Preston Wills and Timothy Moore. Priest, Thompson and Moore also testified at trial.

They face no further federal charges and won't be prosecuted on state charges if they live up to their bargains to assist the investigation.

District Attorney Cono Caranna said Friday that turning the case over to federal prosecutors has produced satisfying results.

"The two prosecutors from Washington are able to work this case 24-7," Caranna said, "and having the laws that most directly address the facts of the case, have demonstrated a high level of professionalism, competence and judgement.

"We will continue to work with them and allow them to use this proven method to see to it that every bad actor at the jail is taken out."