Former Richmond County Deputy Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Charges in Jail Assault

Dantavion Jones, a former deputy with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, has pled guilty to federal civil rights charges related to an assault on a handcuffed jail detainee. Jones, 33, pleaded guilty to Deprivation of Civil Rights Under Color of Law, a charge that could lead to up to 10 years in federal prison, substantial fines, restitution, and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.

The plea agreement outlines that on May 7, 2022, Jones, along with other jail personnel, responded to an incident at the Charles D. Webster Detention Center in Richmond County, where inmates had caused flooding in a section of the jail. One detainee, referred to in court documents as Victim 1, was handcuffed and lying face-down on the ground when he was not posing a threat.

Another deputy shouted that Victim 1 requested his handcuffs be removed, prompting Jones to unlock and remove the detainee’s handcuffs. Shortly after, another deputy punched the detainee repeatedly and placed him in a chokehold, while Jones failed to intervene or stop the assault.

Two other former Richmond County Sheriff’s Office staff members, Corporal Daniel D’Aversa and jailer Melissa Morello, have also pleaded guilty in connection with the incident and are awaiting sentencing.

U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule Jones’ sentencing after a pre-sentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services. The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III and Anita T. Channapati of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.