Four Alabama Guards Receive Prison Sentences for Beating Prisoner to Death

by David Reutter

An Alabama federal district court sentenced four state prison guards to prison for their actions in the beating death of a prisoner and the subsequent attempt to cover it up. One guard was sentenced to 30 years; the sentences for the others range from 5 to 7 years.

Prisoner Rocrast Mack, 24, was serving a 20-year drug conviction sentence at Alabama’s medium-security Ventress Correctional Institution. As he lay on his bunk on Aug. 4, 2010, a female guard hit him for inappropriately touching himself. He hit her back, giving her a bloody lip. She called for help, saying Mack had jumped her.

According to evidence at trial, Lieutenant Michael Smith, 39, assaulted Mack in his office, repeatedly striking him with a baton and stomping and kicking him. On one occasion, Smith swung the baton like a baseball bat, hitting Mack in the back of the head. Even after Mack was in the infirmary, Smith stomped on Mack’s head as he lay on the floor. He died the next day at the local hospital. More details are available in PLN’s previous article. [See PLN, Jul. 2012, p. 38].

The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) initially said Mack struck a guard and resisted when attempts were made to restrain him. Investigations by federal and state authorities uncovered the real story.

A jury convicted Smith of Violating Mack’s constitutional rights, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice. The other guards involved pleaded guilty.

Guard Matthew Davidson, 45, pled guilty to two counts of civil rights violations and an obstruction of justice violation; Joseph Sanders, 32, pled guilty to an obstruction of justice violation; Scottie Glenn, 30, pled guilty to a civil rights violation and conspiracy violation.

These defendants each played a role in the vicious and fatal beating of Mr. Mack, and then they lied to authorities to conceal their culpability,” said Jocelyn Samuels, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division. “Their actions run completely counter to the responsibilities and trust given to law enforcement officers.”

In sentencing Smith to 30 years in prison on November 4, 2013, United States District Judge Myron Thompson said Smith had a “depraved heart” and tortured Mack. Sanders and Glenn were each sentenced to five years, and Davidson still faces a restitution hearing.

Mack’s family sued ADOC and reached a $900,000 settlement, with $440,000 of that going to his 6-year-old son. See: United States v. Smith, Case no. 2:12-cr-00048-MHT-TFM

Sources: criminal-justice-online.blogspot.com; Associated Press; Montgomeryadvertiser.com

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