Two former correctional officers from West Virginia have pleaded guilty to federal civil rights violations stemming from the death of Quantez Burks, a 37-year-old inmate who died less than a day after being booked into the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver.
Johnathan Walters entered his plea on Monday, followed by Corey Snyder on Tuesday. Both admitted to conspiring with other officers to assault Burks as retaliation.
Sentencing and Maximum Penalties
Each defendant faces up to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing dates for Walters and Snyder have not yet been announced.
The two are among six individuals indicted in November 2023, including five former officers and a lieutenant. Two other officers entered guilty pleas the same month, with sentencing hearings for other defendants scheduled in early 2024.
The Fatal Assault on Quantez Burks
Burks was booked into the jail in March 2022 on a wanton endangerment charge. Court documents state that after attempting to push past an officer, Burks was escorted to an interview room, where he was restrained, handcuffed, and beaten by correctional officers.
Walters and Snyder admitted to knowing that the interview room lacked surveillance cameras and had previously been used to punish detainees.
Despite these claims, the West Virginia medical examiner’s office ruled Burks’ death was due to natural causes. However, a private autopsy requested by Burks’ family revealed multiple areas of blunt force trauma.
Systemic Issues and Fallout at Southern Regional Jail
The case has amplified scrutiny of conditions at the Southern Regional Jail, which has faced allegations of inhumane treatment and neglect.
Last year, West Virginia settled a class-action lawsuit for $4 million filed by inmates who described appalling conditions at the jail. The case included accusations of document destruction by state officials, which led to the firing of key personnel in the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Homeland Security.
Family Demands Justice
Burks’ family continues to seek accountability for his death. The findings of the private autopsy have fueled their calls for reform and highlighted a broader pattern of misconduct at the facility.
