Raleigh County, WV (WOAY) – A former correctional officer from Southern Regional Jail was sentenced on Thursday for his role in the assault and death of inmate Quantez Burks back in 2022.
Steven Nicholas Wimmer, a 25-year-old from Bluefield, has been sentenced to nine years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Wimmer confirmed that he responded to a call for officer help after Burks tried to push past another officer. The officers, including Wimmer, escorted Burks to an interview room and beat him while he was handcuffed.
Wimmer also stated that they beat him as punishment for trying to leave his assigned pod, and that Wimmer also conspired to hurt Burks in the room while restrained.
Wimmer follows former officer Andrew Fleshman in pleading guilty to using unreasonable force against Burks.
Back in November 2024, Mark Holdren, Corey Snyder, and Jonathan Walters each pleaded guilty as well. Ashley Toney and Jacob Boothe also pleaded guilty for not helping Burks when the officers beat him.
A former lieutenant at SRJ, Chad Lester, was convicted for his part in trying to cover up the death of Burks. He will be sentenced on the 15th of May.
