Former Rikers Island officers sentenced to prison for beating inmate

The ex-guards were ordered to beat Jahmal Lightfoot in July 2012
after one them claimed he locked eyes with the inmate during a
search of the jail

Mazin Sidahmed in New York
Friday 16 September 2016 23.42 BST

Six men who were formerly officers at New York’s Rikers Island correctional facility were on Friday handed sentences of up to six and a half years in prison, for assaulting an inmate four years ago.

The men had previously been found guilty of first-degree attempted gang assault, among other charges, in the beating of inmate Jahmal Lightfoot.

Those sentenced included Eliseo Perez Jr, former assistant chief for security, and Gerald Vaughn, a former captain, who were convicted of ordering the beating. Officers Jose Parra, Tobias Parker, Alfred Rivera and David Rodriguez each faced up to 15 years in prison but were handed sentences ranging from four-and-a-half to six-and-a-half years.

The beating took place in July 2012, after Perez locked eyes with Lightfoot during a search of the jail and Perez said: “This guy thinks he’s tough. When you get him to the intake area, take him to the intake search pen and knock his fucking teeth out.”

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