A guilty plea from a former Big Sandy Penitentiary prison guard is raising claims of an alleged culture of intentionally abusing inmates.
Terry Melvin pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy and deprivation of civil rights for abusing prisoners in 2021 and 2022.
Bureau of Prisons rules require inmates who ask for protective custody from other inmates be placed in the special housing unit, known as the SHU.
According to Mountain Top News, Melvin claimed they were directed to keep the SHU population low so he and 17 other guards assaulted inmates, claimed the inmates started it and sent them back to regular housing.
Melvin said under oath the guards were rewarded for it, sometimes as much as $8,000.
Melvin faces up to ten years in prison when sentenced.