Raleigh County, WV (WOAY) – A former corrections officer from Southern Regional Jail was sentenced on Monday for failing to intervene to stop other officers from assaulting inmate Quantez Burks.
25-year-old Ashley Toney was sentenced to six years and six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Court documents state that Officer Toney acknowledges that she responded to a call for officer help after Quantez Burks tried to push past another correctional officer and leave his assigned pod.
Following this, officers, including Toney, took Burks to an interview room, then multiple officers beat Burks while he was restrained and was not a threat.
Toney stated she had the opportunity to intervene and stop the beating, but did not.
Toney pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin on August 8, 2024, to deprivation of rights under color of law resulting in physical injury.
Six more former officers have also been charged.
Mark Holdren, Corey Snyder, and Johnathan Walters have already pleaded guilty, with sentencing set for June 16.
Jacob Boothe also admitted to failing to stop the violence.
On January 27, a federal jury convicted Chad Lester, a former lieutenant at the jail, of obstruction of justice for helping cover up the incident.
