Ex Oklahoma Corrections Officer Convicted For Aiding White Supremacist Attacks On Black Inmates

Former Corrections Officer Found Guilty Of Aiding White Supremacist Attacks On Black Inmates

Former supervisory corrections officer Matthew Ware was found guilty Friday of violating the civil rights of three pretrial detainees at the Kay County Detention Center.

The Justice Department said in a press release that Ware deprived them of their rights to be “free from a correction officers’ deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of serious harm” in addition to “use of excessive force.”

According to Insider, Ware commanded two low-ranking officers in 2017 to move two Black detainees, D’Angelo Wilson and Marcus Miller, to a section that housed white supremacist inmates.

Conviction of Matthew Ware, former Kay County Oklahoma supervisory corrections officer, for civil rights violations:

“The preservation of civil rights and the investigation of Color of Law violations are of utmost priority for the FBI.”

Full statement:https://t.co/WQZRScQTIj pic.twitter.com/2W1ng1jI5p

— FBI Oklahoma City (@FBIOklahomaCity) April 15, 2022

“When Ware’s orders were followed, the white supremacist inmates attacked Wilson and Miller, resulting in physical injury to both, including a facial laceration to Wilson that required seven stitches to close”

“This high-ranking corrections official had a duty to ensure that the civil rights of pretrial detainees in his custody were not violated,” said Assistant Attorney General Kirsten Clarke.

“The defendant abused his power and authority by ordering subordinate corrections officers to violate the constitutional rights of several pretrial detainees. The Civil Rights Division will continue to hold corrections officials accountable when they violate the civil rights of detainees and inmates.”

In addition, Ware was reportedly involved in an alleged coverup of sexual harassment at the workplace. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 per violation. Sentencing is scheduled to take place within 90 days.

It looks like Ware was involved in a workplace coverup of sexual harassment too:

‘Wright alleged she reported the sexual harassment to Lt. Chief of Security Matthew Ware, who “dismissed” her complaint, and that “no responsive action was taken.”’ https://t.co/Y8WiXx2jwq

— Maureen Moore (@HopesMom12) April 15, 2022