Live updates: Mississippi's "Goon Squad" members sentenced
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Mississippi's "Goon Squad" sentenced

By Emma Tucker, Aditi Sangal and Tori B. Powell, CNN

Updated 2:07 p.m. ET, April 10, 2024
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1:45 p.m. ET, April 10, 2024

The "Goon Squad" was sentenced on state charges today. Catch up on the key details

The six former Mississippi law enforcement officers, who are members of the self-styled “Goon Squad,” received state sentences Wednesday ranging from 15 and 45 years. They had pleaded guilty in August to charges stemming from the January 2023 torture and abuse of two Black men.

Here's what you need to know:

The sentence: All of the state sentences are to run concurrently with their federal sentences.

  • Brett McAlpin: State court sentenced him to 20 years after federal court gave him 27 1/4 years in prison.
  • Jeffrey Middleton: State court sentenced him to 20 years after federal court gave him 17 1/2 years.
  • Daniel Opdyke: State court sentenced him to 20 years after federal court gave him 17 1/2 years.
  • Christian Dedmon: State court sentenced him to 25 years after federal court gave him 40 years.
  • Hunter Elward: State court sentenced him to 45 years after federal court gave him 20 years.
  • Joshua Hartfield: State court sentenced him to 15 years after federal court gave him 10 years

Victim statements: Malik Shabazz, attorney for victims Michael Jenkins and Eddie Park, read their statements in court.

  • Michael Jenkins: "Your honor, they killed me. I just didn't die," he said in his statement. He also described how the actions of the former officers have affected his life. "I am a musician and a signer, and now because of the gunshot wound that shattered my jaw, I can no longer do what I love, and that's sing," he said, adding that he sometimes wakes up at night covered in sweat due to nightmares about what happened. "I'm broken inside, and I don't think I will ever be the person I was."
  • Eddie Parker: “I never knew the ones that were sworn to protect and serve would be the ones that needed protection from," the statement read. "The humiliation and embarrassment from the sexual assault is too great for me to talk about. Therefore, I am in therapy now and for the future.”

Reaction to the sentences: Shabazz said today's sentencing is "significant," but added that he still hoped the former officers received more time. He noted that the judge departed from the initial recommendations of "low" prison sentences for the squad, and in doing so "set a new standard here in Rankin County, that police brutality will not be tolerated in Rankin County."

1:45 p.m. ET, April 10, 2024

Victim's parents react to sentencing: "Now people's eyes are open"

From CNN's Tori B. Powell and Emma Tucker in Brandon, Mississippi

Melvin Jenkins, right, stands with his son, Michael Jenkins, while commenting on the sentencing of six former Mississippi law enforcement officers on Wednesday in Brandon, Mississippi.
Melvin Jenkins, right, stands with his son, Michael Jenkins, while commenting on the sentencing of six former Mississippi law enforcement officers on Wednesday in Brandon, Mississippi. Rogelio V. Solis/AP

Melvin Jenkins, the father of victim Michael Jenkins, called the sentencing of six officers who pleaded guilty to torturing and abusing his son and another Black man "a monumental day."

He said their son's story has inspired others to speak out against injustice.

"I know several people today who are afraid still to come out because of retaliation against them," he said Wednesday at a news conference. "I'd like to thank the judges, the lawyers and you people for making this nationwide."

Michael's mother, Mary Jenkins, called on people to speak out about the "Goon Squad" and their actions.

"Please don’t condone what they’re doing. Let them know you don’t want this Goon Squad representing them," she told CNN.

She said she is happy about the sentencing.

"I’m glad they got as much time as they did," she said. "This has never happened in Mississippi before and now people's eyes are open."

1:26 p.m. ET, April 10, 2024

"Goon Squad" member Daniel Opdyke takes full responsibility for his "wrongful actions," attorney says

From CNN's Emma Tucker in Brandon, Mississippi

Daniel Opdyke is seen during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday in Brandon, Mississippi.
Daniel Opdyke is seen during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday in Brandon, Mississippi. Rogelio V. Solis/AP

Daniel Opdyke, one of six former Mississippi officers sentenced today, “has admitted and taken full responsibility for what wrongful actions and inactions he was guilty of that night,” his attorney Jeff Reynolds told CNN after Wednesday's hearing.

During Opdyke’s federal sentencing hearing last month, it was revealed that he was the officer who turned over the text messages from the “Goon Squad” group chat, which was on the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp, to the federal government on April 12, 2023.

“The Feds themselves admitted in their downward departure motion filed in federal court that these texts played a vital role in the procurement of the guilty pleas of the other five officers,” Reynolds told CNN. “Without the texts and Daniel’s early cooperation, who knows where we would be right now? The Goon Squad might still be corruptly abusing people in Rankin County.”
11:38 a.m. ET, April 10, 2024

NAACP official wants DOJ to examine the Rankin County Sheriff's Department and "clean house"

From CNN's Emma Tucker in Brandon, Mississippi

The Rankin County NAACP president Angela English said the chapter has spoken to the Department of Justice about "a clean sweep" of the county's sheriff's department.

"This chapter of the book has been written, but the book is not finished," she said after the sentencing of six "Goon Squad" members for abusing and torturing two Black men.

"We have, in leadership, the sheriff who we consider the leader of the Goon Squad. So we are going to continue our fight to remove him from office. We have spoken with the Department of Justice. We have reiterated that we want a clean sweep. We want them to go throughout the Rankin County Sheriff's Department and we want them to clean house. We want them to go into the jails and reopen all of these cases that these lawless officers have created. The lives of these people who are still in jail have been ruined by this," he said.
11:51 a.m. ET, April 10, 2024

Victims' attorney says he hoped for longer sentences for "Goon Squad" members

From CNN's Tori B. Powell

Attorney Malik Shabazz, center, speaks alongside Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker following the sentencing of the former Mississippi law enforcement officers on Wednesday in Brandon, Mississippi.
Attorney Malik Shabazz, center, speaks alongside Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker following the sentencing of the former Mississippi law enforcement officers on Wednesday in Brandon, Mississippi. CNN

While attorney Malik Shabazz said today's sentencing is "significant," he still said he hoped the officers who pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the January 2023 torture and abuse of two Black men received more time.

"Yes, we would have preferred that a couple of more years of extra time were added to the defendants' sentences," he said Wednesday at a news conference. "However, we respect the judgement of this court. We respect the wisdom of this court and Mississippi has spoken here."

The six officers each received additional prison sentences ranging from 15 to 45 years Wednesday in state court. All of their state sentences are to run concurrently with their federal sentences.

Shabazz also spoke about the impact the crimes had on his clients.

"When you conduct acts of sexual depravity that is designed to take advantage of the victims can take years or a lifetime to recover. I mean can you imagine being captured by these six criminals in this house and them torturing and abusing you?" he told CNN.

11:08 a.m. ET, April 10, 2024

Today is a "day we've long awaited," attorney for the victims says

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

Today "is a day we've long awaited," attorney Malik Shabazz said after six White former Mississippi officers were sentenced in state court for torturing and abusing his clients Eddie Parker and Michael Jenkins.

The court has "given out justice," Shabazz said.

In departing from the initial recommendations of "low" prison sentences for the squad, the judge "set a new standard here in Rankin County, that police brutality will not be tolerated in Rankin County," Shabazz said.

Jenkins also reacted to the sentencing, telling reporters that it's been "a long time coming."

CNN's Emma Tucker contributed reporting to this post.

10:41 a.m. ET, April 10, 2024

Sixth member of "Goon Squad" sentenced to 15 years by state court  

 

Joshua Hartfield is seen during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday.
Joshua Hartfield is seen during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday. CNN

The sixth of six former Mississippi law enforcement officers who pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the January 2023 torture and abuse of two Black men was sentenced in state court on Wednesday to 15 years in prison. The hearing is now complete.  

Joshua Hartfield was sentenced to 15 years to run concurrently with his federal sentence.  

Remember: The six White officers — Rankin County Sheriff’s deputies Hunter Elward, Brett McAlpin, Christian Dedmon, Daniel Opdyke, Jeffrey Middleton, and former Richland Police Department officer Joshua Hartfield – received federal prison sentences last month ranging from 10 to 40 years.  

10:36 a.m. ET, April 10, 2024

Fifth "Goon Squad" member sentenced to 20 years

Daniel Opdyke is seen during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday in Brandon, Mississippi.
Daniel Opdyke is seen during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday in Brandon, Mississippi. CNN

The fifth of six former Mississippi law enforcement officers who pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the January 2023 torture and abuse of two Black men was sentenced in state court on Wednesday to 20 years in prison.

The hearing is ongoing.  

On Wednesday, Daniel Opdyke was sentenced to 20 years to run concurrently with his federal sentence.  

The six White officers – Rankin County Sheriff’s deputies Hunter Elward, Brett McAlpin, Christian Dedmon, Daniel Opdyke, Jeffrey Middleton, and former Richland Police Department officer Joshua Hartfield – received federal prison sentences last month ranging from 10 to 40 years.  

10:35 a.m. ET, April 10, 2024

Fourth member of the "Goon Squad" sentenced to 45 years

 

Hunter Elward is seen during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday.
Hunter Elward is seen during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday. CNN

The fourth of six former Mississippi law enforcement officers who pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the January 2023 torture and abuse of two Black men was sentenced in state court on Wednesday to 45 years in prison. The hearing is ongoing.

On Wednesday, Hunter Elward was sentenced to 45 years to run concurrently with his federal sentence. 

Remember: The six White officers — Rankin County Sheriff’s deputies Hunter Elward, Brett McAlpin, Christian Dedmon, Daniel Opdyke, Jeffrey Middleton, and former Richland Police Department officer Joshua Hartfield – received federal prison sentences last month ranging from 10 to 40 years.