Blackrightsmatter.org

March 12, 2024

Senior Judge Tom S. Lee

Southern District of Mississippi

United States District Court

501 E. Court Street, Suite 4.756

Jackson, MS 39201

Re: Sentencing for Defendants Hunter Elward; Jeffrey Middleton; Christian Dedmon; Daniel Opdyke; Joshua Hartfield; Brett McAlpin  

Dear Honorable Judge Lee:

We, residents of the State of Mississippi and members of the American public are petitioning The Court for the maximum criminal sentences for the defendants belonging to the Rankin County ‘Goon Squad’. Hunter Elward; Jeffrey Middleton; Christian Dedmon; Daniel Opdyke; Joshua Hartfield; Brett McAlpin will be sentenced in your courtroom March 19, 2024, March 20, 2024, and March 21, 2024.

The viscous, racist and violent encounters these defendants engaged in, including, the torture, waterboarding, sexual and physical abuse and attempted murder suffered by Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker represent the absolute worst conduct by law enforcement in America. We urge The Court to send the strongest message to law enforcement all over America that these criminal acts by these defendants, committed  under the color of law, will be met with the severest of penalties. 

The African-American population of Mississippi have traditionally been subjected to innumerable injustices of historical proportions in this state. This is the first time any Caucasian police officer(s) have ever been held criminally liable for criminal offenses against the Black population. We are pleading with you to take the history of injustices in Mississippi into account during the ‘Goon Squad' sentencing.  Please help the world to understand that justice in Mississippi will be applied equally to persons regardless of the race of the victims.  

The ‘Goon Squad’ has been terrorizing the Rankin County population for years. Only now they were caught. The other crimes that Hunter Elward and Christian Dedmon will plead guilty to on March 19-21, 2024 are indicative of this allegation. 

The outrageous torture and physical abuse of both victims, and the shooting-in-the mouth of Michael Jenkins have caused a lifetime of trauma and physical abnormality to the victims and their families. The horrific facts that the defendants pled guilty to justify the claim that the criminal melee of January 23, 2023 was “the worst events of police brutality in American history.” 

We are urging The Court to meet out criminal sentences that affirm the historical nature and severity of these outrageous crimes committed.

Thank you for accepting our letter and petition.  

Sincerely,