Corrections officer in Missouri pleads guilty to violating the civil rights of a prisoner

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United States District Court Judge Matthew T. Schelp accepted a plea of guilty from Demeria Thomas, age 38, for deprivation of rights under color of law related to her knowingly allowing inmates to assault another inmate while in his cell at the St. Louis City Justice Center.  A grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri previously indicted Thomas in July 2021.  Judge Schelp set sentencing for May 10, 2022. 

According to the indictment, on March 22, 2021, Demeria Thomas was employed by the City of St. Louis as a Corrections Officer at the City Justice Center. Thomas was on duty at the City Justice Center on March 22, 2021, and acted, at all times relevant hereto, under color of law.  Thomas was operating a control panel that locked and unlocked cells in her area of responsibility.  After engaging in conversation with two inmates, Thomas unlocked a specific cell door.  This allowed the two inmates to enter and physically assault another inmate. 

In addition, Thomas directed other inmates to stay away, prohibiting them from coming to the aid of the victim.  Several minutes after the assault began, Thomas walked to the open door of the cell as the suspects continued the assault. Thomas calmly instructed the suspects to leave the cell.  After they had left, Thomas closed the door to the cell, making no effort to render aid to the bleeding and incapacitated victim.  Thomas also failed to disclose the assault and filed no report of the incident.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. 


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