Missouri Prison Reform ‘relieved’ by murder charges against guards in Othel Moore case
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Advocacy group Missouri Prison Reform released a statement over the weekend saying the group is "relieved" that former corrections officers are being charged in the death of Othel Moore.
Moore died in December at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. A probable cause statement said his cause of death was suffocation. It said he died from choking on contents from his stomach after being put in a restraint.
Five former JCCC officers were charged Friday in Moore's death.
Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson unveiled the charges against Justin M. Leggins, Jacob A. Case, Aaron C. Brown, Gregory H. Varner and Bryanne M. Bradshaw, Friday in a news release.
Four are charged with being an accessory to second-degree assault and second-degree murder. Bradshaw is charged with involuntary manslaughter.
In a statement over the weekend, Missouri Prison Reform said, "Missouri Prison Reform is relieved to learn that charges have been filed against some of those responsible for the tragic and senseless murder of Othel Moore at Jefferson City Correctional Center. We are grateful to the prison residents who promptly informed us about this horrific incident. We hope to see continued transparency and accountability for our Department of Corrections."
The Missouri Department of Corrections said in a statement that it has discontinued the use of the restraint Moore was put in before he died. The department says it "has begun" implementing body-worn cameras in some areas of maximum security facilities, starting with Jefferson City Correctional Center.
A spokesperson said in response to questions from ABC 17 News that the cameras are being worn by guards in Jefferson City Correctional Center after a trial this May and will now be implemented in other prisons.
"We take seriously our responsibility for creating the safest environment possible and will not tolerate behaviors or conditions that endanger the wellbeing of Missourians working or living in our facilities," the Department of Corrections statement says.
The Missouri Justice Coalition has said Moore was excessively pepper sprayed by the JCCC Emergency Response Team before his head was covered with a hood, his body was wrapped and he was strapped to a restraint cart. The coalition said Moore was then taken to a dry cell in Housing Unit 8.
The charges allege Moore wasn't given medical attention in that unit, where Bradshaw was in charge.
Moore was serving a 30-year sentence for domestic assault, drug possession, robbery, armed criminal action and violence to a prison inmate or employee.
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