Former Bureau of Prisons Officer Sentenced for Violating Inmate’s Civil Rights

RALEIGH, N.C. – A former lieutenant at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) was sentenced today to two years of probation for conspiring to violate the civil rights of inmates at Butner Correctional Institute.  On December 23, 2024, Daniel Mitchell, 42, pled guilty to the charge.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Mitchell was a lieutenant supervising the special housing unit (SHU) at the Federal Correctional Institute Butner Medium II.  Victim K.G. was an inmate housed in the SHU under Mitchell’s supervision.  On the morning of December 8, 2021, a female officer reported to Mitchell that inmate K.G. exposed himself to her and engaged in a sexual act within her view. The BOP disciplinary policy for such behavior is a formal write-up of the misconduct.  Instead, Mitchell directed another officer to take inmate K.G. to a holding cell and teach him a lesson by “tuning him up.” There, the inmate was physically assaulted by the officer.  In later interviews, Mitchell and the officer both admitted to meeting in Mitchell’s office where they agreed that the officer would assault K.G. as punishment. 

Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The DOJ Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Eric Peffley prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-0332-BO.

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