Case Sheds Light on Inmate Abuse, Raises Questions Over Conditions at the Southern Regional Jail
A former correctional officer from Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights violation on Wednesday. The officer, Mark Holdren, admitted to conspiring with other officers to assault an inmate, Quantez Burks, who died less than 24 hours after his booking in March 2022. The plea is part of a broader investigation into alleged abuses at the jail and comes after two other former officers entered guilty pleas in connection with Burks’ death.
Details of the Assault on Quantez Burks
Burks, 37, was arrested on a wanton endangerment charge and brought to Southern Regional Jail. Court documents reveal that he attempted to push past an officer to leave his housing unit and was subsequently restrained, handcuffed, and taken to an interview room without surveillance cameras. In this room, officers allegedly beat Burks as retaliation. Holdren, who admitted to participating in the assault, acknowledged that the camera-free room was often used to enable excessive force without detection.
According to court filings, Holdren knew it was improper to use force against inmates and pretrial detainees in this way, especially for disciplinary purposes. His guilty plea could result in up to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
Legal Proceedings and Charges for Other Officers
Holdren is one of five former correctional officers, along with a former jail lieutenant, indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023. In addition to Holdren, ex-officers Ashley Toney and Jacob Boothe also face sentencing in January for failing to intervene during the assault. Two other officers, Steven Wimmer and Andrew Fleshman, await sentencing in February following guilty pleas for felony conspiracy. The remaining defendants are set for trial on December 10.
Concerns Over Jail Conditions and Government Response
The case has drawn renewed attention to conditions at Southern Regional Jail, where allegations of inhumane treatment, overcrowding, and lack of resources led to a $4 million class-action settlement by the state of West Virginia in 2022. Filed on behalf of inmates, the lawsuit cited a lack of access to basic necessities, including water and food, and reported ongoing violent incidents that often went unaddressed by jail staff.
The fallout from the jail’s conditions also led to the dismissal of two high-ranking officials, Brad Douglas and Phil Sword, by Gov. Jim Justice’s administration. Their termination came after a federal magistrate judge found intentional destruction of records related to inmate treatment, which included crucial emails and documents. The judge recommended a default judgment due to the lack of preserved evidence, a decision that followed testimony from corrections officials who confirmed no preservation steps had been taken.
Conflicting Autopsy Results and Family’s Pursuit of Justice
Although the West Virginia medical examiner ruled Burks’ death a result of natural causes, Burks’ family commissioned a private autopsy, which found multiple areas of blunt force trauma. This report, unveiled at a press conference in 2022, has fueled calls for further accountability and transparency from corrections officials and the West Virginia state government.
