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January 19, 2012

Ex-jailer indicted in assault case

Former Muskogee jailer alleged to have used pepper spray on restrained inmate

By Dylan Goforth Phoenix Staff Writer

— A former officer at the Muskogee County/City Detention Facility was indicted Wednesday on complaints of assaulting an inmate.

A release from the Oklahoma Department of Justice said Jerrod Porter Lane, 26, is alleged to have violated a prisoner’s rights while housed at the jail. The release states Lane sprayed a restrained inmate with pepper spray on Oct. 1. The report also states Lane falsified his incident report and the report of another jailer by stating the inmate was “physically resisting and not restrained” when pepper sprayed.

Phillip Oliver, an inmate at the detention facility, pleaded guilty Jan. 11 to punching the restrained inmate. Oliver admitted to assaulting the inmate at Lane’s request.

The indictment against Lane states Lane told Oliver to “go in there and do what you gotta do.” Lane promised Oliver he would cover for him if Oliver got into trouble for punching the inmate. Oliver said Lane opened the inmate’s cell door remotely.

Muskogee County Sheriff Charles Pearson said jail administration pays close attention to jailer/inmate relationships to keep this sort of situation from arising.

“We keep a close eye on this type of thing,” Pearson said. “And if it happens, we will press charges on everyone involved.”

The case is being investigated by the Muskogee resident agency of the Oklahoma City Division of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan M. Roberts for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and Trial Attorney Fara Gold of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Roberts said Lane has not entered a plea and that his first court appearance is expected sometime next week. Lane was appointed a public defender.

If convicted, Lane could spend as much as 10 years in prison. A date for Oliver’s sentencing has not been set, but he could spend five years in prison.

Reach Dylan Goforth at (918) 684-2903 or dgoforth@muskogeephoenix.com.

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