Former corrections officer pleads guilty to federal charges after beating inmate badly

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A former supervisory corrections officer of Clarksville, Tennessee pleaded guilty to two counts of civil rights violations Friday.

The officer at the Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility in Hartsville, 42-year-old Kenan Lister, pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law for using unlawful force on an inmate and one count of deprivation of rights under color of law for being deliberately indifferent to the inmate’s medical needs, according to the Department of Justice.

“All persons, including prison inmates, are guaranteed under the Constitution the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment,” said U.S. Attorney Wildasin. “I commend our partners at the FBI and the prosecution team for their diligent work in bringing this case and ensuring accountability for the unlawful actions of a prison guard.”

Lister was indicted in September 2021 and admitted on Friday that on Aug. 30, 2019 he was on duty as the prison’s security threat group coordinator and escorted an inmate to a holding cell after the inmate assaulted a prison employee.

While the inmate was sitting in a holding cell and not resisting whatsoever, Lister punched the inmate in the head and knocked him to the ground. Lister than continued to kick, punch and hit the inmate multiple times in his head, chest and torso after he was on the ground, seriously injuring the him.

After the incident, the inmate suffered fracturing of his ribs and puncturing of his lung, which required the him to undergo surgery and to be hospitalized for several days.

Despite Lister’s knowledge that the inmate needed medical attention, Lister failed to provide medical care or to make the necessary notifications to get the inmate medical care and, instead, locked the inmate in a holding cell.

“When a correctional officer violates the civil rights of an inmate whose safety he is charged with, it undermines the respect and reputation of all law enforcement officers," said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Korneski of the FBI Memphis Field Office. "The FBI will vigorously investigate and bring to justice any law enforcement officer who violates the constitution and the trust of the people."

Lister faces up to 10 years in prison on each count when he is sentenced on Aug. 17, 2022.

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