Jackson, Mississippi – Two former Mississippi deputies were sentenced in federal court for their involvement in a heinous act of racial violence. Christian Dedmon, 29, received a 40-year sentence, while Daniel Opdyke, 28, was sentenced to 17.5 years by U.S. District Judge Tom Lee. The judge condemned their cruel actions for breaking into a home and torturing two Black men, Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker, along with a white man during a previous traffic stop.
During the sentencing, Dedmon expressed remorse, acknowledging the pain he caused, yet Jenkins described Dedmon as the worst example of a police officer. Both Dedmon and Opdyke, along with two other former deputies, Hunter Elward and Jeffrey Middleton, were denounced by the judge for their egregious and despicable behavior during the attack. Two more former officers are set for sentencing.
The six individuals had previously pleaded guilty to their involvement in the attack, where they tortured the victims after a neighbor’s complaint. The horrific details of their actions included threats, racial slurs, physical abuse, and even a mock execution gone awry. The victims were subjected to humiliation and violence, causing lasting trauma.
The former deputies, self-named the “Goon Squad,” finally confessed after months of maintaining their cover story. Their despicable acts were finally exposed, leading to federal charges and convictions. Attorney General Merrick Garland condemned the attack as a betrayal of the oath to protect citizens.
The community in Rankin County, just east of Jackson, was left shaken by the brutality of the attack. The victims were targeted based on their race, with racial slurs and demands to leave the area echoing in court documents. The former officers’ actions violated the trust placed in law enforcement, leading to public outrage and calls for accountability.
One of the former deputies, Opdyke, admitted to his role in the violence, revealing a troubling culture of misconduct within the Sheriff’s Office. The officers’ actions were not isolated incidents, as they had been linked to previous violent encounters with Black men. Revelations of sexual assault, planting evidence, and false charges further tarnished their reputation.
The conviction of these former deputies serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of abuse of power and racism within law enforcement. The victims, scarred physically and emotionally, have called for justice and accountability. The community, reeling from the impact of the attack, demands transparency and reform within the justice system to prevent such atrocities from happening again.