REQUEST TO VIEW BEATING VIDEO, INMATE-ABUSE COMPLAINTS REJECTED

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
June 23, 2007

GULFPORT — A federal judge Friday rejected a south Mississippi newspaper's request to view the videotaped beating of inmate Jessie Lee Williams Jr. and inmate-abuse complaints.

"The right to a fair trial trumps all the First Amendment rights you may have," Chief Magistrate Judge John Roper told the Sun Herald newspaper.

The Sun Herald sued in Chancery Court to have the documents declared subject to the Mississippi Public Records Act. The request was filed May 31, one day after a Harrison County Chancery Judge Jim Persons said the materials were public record under Mississippi law.

Defense attorneys objected vigorously to the Sun Herald's requests. One attorney blasted the newspaper for taking up his time in court to request documents to be used in the upcoming trial of four ex-jailers accused of conspiring to violate the civil rights of inmates at the Harrison County jail. Their trial is scheduled Aug. 6.

Roper said the newspaper has a legal standing to ask for what it believes it is entitled to receive.

The videotape depicts the beating of Williams, a 40-year-old detainee at the Harrison County jail, who died Feb. 6, 2006, two days after the assault.

Roper did, however, unseal several records after the Sun Herald claimed no notice was given in advance for why the documents were being sealed.

Federal trial attorney John Richmond argued the newspaper shouldn't receive copies of inmate grievance records because other criminal accusations may be made in the ongoing investigation. Roper agreed.

These pictures were taken on February 6, 2006
at Memorial Hospital at
Gulfport, in ICU

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
July 3, 2007

HARRISON CO. SETTLES INMATE BEATING DEATH SUIT

Harrison County supervisors announced Monday that the county has reached a $3.5 million settlement for its part in a lawsuit brought by the family of Jessie Lee Williams Jr., an inmate beaten to death at the jail nearly 17 months ago.

Supervisors said $1 million will be covered by insurance, but the county will have to issue bonds to pay for the rest of the settlement.

Williams, 40, was beaten after being booked on misdemeanor charges on Feb. 4, 2006. He died two days later.

Two ex-jailers have admitted their roles in the assault in a related criminal case that remains under investigation by state and federal agents.

Four former Harrison County jail employees - Rick Gaston, Daniel Evans, Karl W. Stolze and Ryan Teel - are scheduled to go on trial Aug. 6 on federal criminal charges of conspiring to deprive the civil rights of inmates. An indictment accuses all four of conspiring to use excessive, unnecessary force and covering it up through false reports or no reports at all.

Teel also is accused in the beating of Williams.

Williams' family seeks $150 million in compensatory and punitive damages in the civil lawsuit, which also names several other defendants who have not settled. Among the other defendants are the city of Gulfport and a Gulfport police officer; the American Correctional Association; and Health Assurance LLC, a private health-care company that provides medical service at the Harrison County jail.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
July 5, 2007

SHERIFF APOLOGIZES FOR FATAL BEATING

Four Coast jailers face trial in the 2004 beating death of Jessie Lee Williams

BILOXI — Harrison County Sheriff George Payne has issued a written statement expressing his sorrow over the beating death of inmate Jessie Lee Williams.

"I truly want the Williams family to know that I am sorry for their loss, and I assure the people of Harrison County everything is being done to promote and strengthen the professionalism, training and conduct of the many fine, dedicated staff who work under the most difficult of circumstances in the Harrison County Adult Detention Center," the statement read.

The statement came Tuesday, a day after the county and the city of Gulfport settled with the Williams' estate in a civil lawsuit.

Williams, 40, was beaten after being booked on misdemeanor charges on Feb. 4, 2006. He died two days later.

Williams' family seeks $150 million in compensatory and punitive damages in the civil lawsuit from defendants who have not settled in the case.

Among the other defendants are the American Correctional Association, which has twice awarded accreditation to the Harrison County jail; and Health Assurance LLC, a private health care company that provides medical service at the Harrison County jail.

The trial is scheduled for August 2008.

Four former Harrison County jail employees - Rick Gaston, Daniel Evans, Karl W. Stolze and Ryan Teel - are scheduled to go on trial Aug. 6 on federal criminal charges of conspiring to deprive the civil rights of inmates.

An indictment accuses all four of conspiring to use excessive, unnecessary force and covering it up through false reports or no reports at all.

Teel also is accused in the beating of Williams.

Five others pleaded guilty to charges related to a conspiracy to deprive inmates of their civil rights.

They are awaiting sentencing.

This picture was taken after the medical examiner’s
examination and before the embalming.
It depicts Jessie Lee William, Jr.’s lower back area.
This is the same area that the witnesses indicated
that Jessie was repeatedly tased.

This incision was made by the physicians at
Memorial Hospital in their attempt to save
Jessie’s life, but it was too late.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
February 24, 2007

DEATH PENALTY WON'T BE SOUGHT
Ex-jailer faces May trial in death of inmate

GULFPORT — U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton says that after an extensive review, a decision has been reached not to pursue the death penalty in the prosecution of former Harrison County jailer Ryan Teel.

Lampton said the decision was made by U.S. Attorney Alberto Gonzalez following a meeting in Washington, according to a story in The Sun Herald newspaper.

Teel, who remains in jail, faces a May 28 trial for the Feb. 4, 2006, fatal beating of inmate Jessie Lee Williams Jr. Teel, 30, was in charge of the booking room the night of the beating. He has been held at an undisclosed location since his arrest Aug. 28, 2006.

He pleaded not guilty to charges of deprivation of civil rights under color of law and of falsifying records to obstruct a federal investigation.

The decision by Gonzalez came after Teel's attorneys and federal prosecutors met with a U.S. Justice Department review panel in Washington.

"No reason was given," Lampton told the newspaper. "There's all kinds of arguments for it, but it was his call. I've tried a number of death cases and in this case, I think it's the right decision. It's better to start the case off without the jury or the judge having to deal with the death-penalty issue."

Now, Teel could face life in prison if convicted on the civil rights charge.

Jim Davis, the lead defense attorney, said Teel is relieved over the decision.

U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge John M. Roper had denied bond for Teel after his arrest, saying Teel was a possible flight risk and danger to others. The defense is now asking for a bond review, noting that Teel's detention was ordered before the death-penalty issue was decided.

The family of the 40-year-old Williams, who had been taken to jail on misdemeanors, has been informed, said Michael W. Crosby, lead attorney for Williams' estate.

Three weeks before Teel's arrest, ex-jailer Regina Rhodes admitted she helped beat Williams.

Rhodes and four other former jailers have entered plea agreements, admitting a conspiracy to deprive hundreds of inmates of their rights. Rhodes awaits sentencing, as do former jailers Morgan Thompson, Dedri Caldwell, Preston Wills and William Jeffery Priest.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT JESSIE'S LAWYER'S SITE ABOUT HIS CASE.
PLEASE CONTACT THEM IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION REGARDING
THE MURDER OF JESSIE LEE WILLIAMS, JR.

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Linda Tant Miller
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