JACKSON, Miss. — Two former Mississippi deputies were sentenced on Wednesday for breaking into a home with four white officers and torturing two Black men. Christian Dedmon, 29, was sentenced to 40 years in prison, while Daniel Opdyke, 28, received a 17 1/2-year sentence. U.S. District Judge Tom Lee condemned their cruelty, deeming Dedmon’s actions as “shocking, brutal, and cruel.”
The brutal attack occurred in January 2023 when Dedmon and the other officers broke into the victims’ home without a warrant. The victims, Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker, were subjected to heinous acts of violence, including being shot and assaulted with a sex toy. The attackers, known as the “Goon Squad,” used racial slurs, stun guns, and poured substances over the victims’ faces which they were forced to wash off together while naked.
In a statement read by his lawyer, Jenkins expressed the impact of the attack on his life, stating that Dedmon’s actions were the most depraved among all the attackers. The Judge also sentenced Hunter Elward to nearly 20 years in prison and Jeffrey Middleton to 17 1/2 years for their involvement in the attack. The former officers had initially lied about the incident but eventually admitted to torturing Jenkins and Parker.
Opdyke, one of the former deputies, tearfully apologized in court, acknowledging his transformation into a monster that night. He expressed remorse for the harm he caused and the suffering inflicted on the victims. Jenkins, still bearing physical and emotional scars from the attack, left the courtroom visibly broken and ashamed.
The attack prompted an investigation by federal prosecutors, revealing a disturbing pattern of violence against Black men involving some of the same former officers. The incident shed light on the systemic issues within the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, prompting calls for accountability and justice. The victims, Jenkins and Parker, filed a civil lawsuit against the department and called for the resignation of Sheriff Bryan Bailey.
The sentencing of the former officers marks a step towards justice for the victims and accountability for those responsible for the horrific attack. The case serves as a stark reminder of the deep-rooted issues of racism and police brutality that continue to plague communities across the country. The survivors’ courage in seeking justice highlights the need for systemic reform within law enforcement agencies to prevent such egregious acts from recurring in the future.