Former EKY prison official pleads guilty to falsifying records in inmate assault
A former prison lieutenant at U.S. Penitentiary Big Sandy Correctional Complex pleaded guilty this week to falsifying records after several staff members assaulted an inmate.
Michael J. Childers pleaded guilty Monday on a federal charge of falsifying records in an attempt to cover up an April 2021 assault on an inmate.
As part of his plea agreement, Childers admitted that while on duty at the prison, located in Inez, he was in a lieutenant’s office with other staff and an inmate. The inmate — identified in court documents as “J.B.” — was seeking protective custody, according to court documents.
Under federal policy, if a prisoner asks to be placed in protective custody because of a threat to their safety, corrections officers are supposed to house them in the special housing unit while investigating the potential threat.
In addition to Childers, Lieutenants Terry Melvin and Kevin Pearce Jr., case manager Samuel Patrick and the captain’s secretary Clinton Pauley were present.
During the meeting, Childers punched J.B. in the face and tackled him to the ground, at which time all five staff members got on top of J.B. and the assault continued, according to prosecutors.
J.B. was not resisting, and prison staff had no lawful reason to use force on him, prosecutors say.
After the assault, Childers falsely reported the inmate headbutted and punched him, causing minor injury and dizziness. Prosecutors say it was Childers’ intention to obstruct the FBI’s investigation and prosecution of the assault.
Under the plea agreement, Childers could face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.
The assault is one of an unknown number of assaults or cover-up attempts by officials at Big Sandy prison — including charges against those officials who were in the room at the time of the assault on J.B.
In January, Melvin pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the civil rights of and depriving an inmate of the Constitutional right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. In Melvin’s guilty plea, he said the assaults on inmates were a “commonplace occurrence” at Big Sandy.
Melvin’s sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2026.
Pearce was convicted of two counts of falsification of records in a federal investigation after a trial in 2023. He was sentenced to 5 and a half years in prison.
Patrick and Pauley pleaded guilty in 2023 to federal charges related to the assault on J.B., and other inmates. Patrick pleaded guilty to two charges of depriving inmates of their Constitutional right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment, and Pauley pleaded guilty to three counts.
Patrick was sentenced in 2023, to serve three years, according to court documents. Pauley was sentenced to a little over three years.
USP Big Sandy was built on a former surface mine and houses 1,275 inmates, nearly all of them in a high-security facility.
In an emailed statement, Benjamin O’Cone, a spokesperson for the Federal of Bureau of Prisons said they do not comment on pending litigation or ongoing legal proceedings.
“Allegations of misconduct are thoroughly investigated, and appropriate action is taken if such allegations are proven true,” O’Cone said. “The BOP reaffirms its zero-tolerance stance on misconduct and its unwavering commitment to accountability at every level of the organization.”
