Former Florida State Corrections Officer Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Assaulting...

Former Florida State Corrections Officer Sentenced to Three Years in Prison
for Assaulting an Inmate

WASHINGTON, July 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Paul Tillis, a former Florida
Department of Corrections officer, was sentenced today in federal court in
Jacksonville, Fla., on a federal civil rights charge related to assaulting an
inmate, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Loretta
King. Tillis was sentenced to three years in prison followed by two years of
post-release supervision.

Following a week-long trial, a federal jury in Jacksonville convicted Tillis
on Jan. 16, 2009, of violating the civil rights of an inmate at the Florida
State Prison in Raiford while on duty as a supervisory corrections officer.
The evidence at trial showed that he assaulted the victim by pouring a bottle
of scalding water onto the inmate's chest while the inmate was lying on the
floor of his cell. The evidence showed that Tillis also failed to arrange for
medical care for the victim, who suffered second degree burns on his chest as
a result of this assault.

"Corrections officers must not misuse their positions of authority to inflict
physical harm on inmates as punishment," said Acting Assistant Attorney
General Loretta King for the Civil Rights Division. "While the vast majority
of law enforcement officers carry out their difficult duties in a lawful and
professional manner, the Department of Justice will continue to vigorously
prosecute those who cross the line and commit acts of cruelty such as this."

This case was investigated by agents from the FBI's Jacksonville Division and
the Florida Office of the Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Heavener of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the
Middle District of Florida and Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
Trial Attorney Douglas Kern.

The Civil Rights Division is committed to the vigorous enforcement of every
federal criminal civil rights statute, such as those laws that prohibit
unreasonable search and seizure, deprivation of property without due process
of law and other acts of misconduct by law enforcement and other government
officials. More information about the Civil Rights Division of the Justice
Department, and the laws it enforces, is available at
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Department of Justice, +1-202-514-2007, TDD: +1-202-514-1888