Two More Officers Sentenced In Jail Beating Death

Two former correctional officers from the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, were sentenced Thursday for their roles in an assault that resulted in the death of pretrial detainee, Quantez Burks, on March 1, 2022. 

Corey Snyder, 30, was sentenced to 19 years and seven months in prison for conspiring with other officers to violate Burks’ civil rights by using unreasonable force against him, resulting in his death. 

Jacob Boothe, 27, was sentenced to three years in prison for failing to intervene to stop fellow officers from assaulting Burks.

According to court documents filed in connection with the guilty pleas, Snyder and Boothe responded to a call for officer assistance after Burks tried to push past another correctional officer and leave his assigned pod. When they arrived, officers were engaged in using force to restrain and handcuff Burks. 

Snyder also began using force, including putting his arm around Burks’ neck and taking him to the floor. Snyder and other officers then conspired to violate Burks’ civil rights by unlawfully punishing Burks to retaliate against him for his attempt to leave the pod. 

As a part of that conspiracy, officers brought Burks to an interview room, where Snyder and other officers used unreasonable force against Burks, including striking him in the head multiple times, kicking, knee-striking him, pulling and twisting his fingers, and using spray, all while Burks was restrained, handcuffed and posed no threat to anyone. 

Boothe was present during the assault and had an opportunity to intervene to stop other officers from assaulting Burks but he chose not to make any reasonable effort to do so.  

Snyder and Boothe each further admitted knowing that officers could not use unreasonable force to punish inmates, including pretrial detainees. In addition, Snyder admitted that he knew the interview room to which officers brought Burks was a “blind spot” – meaning, there were no surveillance cameras to record what happened there. 

Prior to the assault of Burks on March 1, 2022, Snyder and other officers would bring inmates, including pretrial detainees, who had engaged in misconduct to “blind spots,” so that officers could use unreasonable force without being captured on video, thereby avoiding accountability for their actions.

Snyder and Boothe are two of six correctional officers who were indicted in this case. In November 2024, defendants Mark Holdren and Johnathan Walters each pleaded guilty in connection with the use of unreasonable force against Burks, resulting in his death. On July 9, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph R. Goodwin sentenced Holdren to 20 years in prison and Walters was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

In August 2024, Ashley Toney pleaded guilty to failing to intervene to protect Burks from the officers’ assault. On June 9, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph R. Goodwin sentenced Toney to six and a half years in prison.

On January 27, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict at trial for the sixth indicted defendant, Chad Lester, a former Lieutenant at the Southern Regional Jail, finding him guilty on three obstruction of justice charges for his role in conspiring to cover up the death of Burks. On May 15, Judge Goodwin sentenced Lester to 17 and a half years in prison.

Prior to the indictment of the above six defendants, former correctional officers Steven Nicholas Wimmer and Andrew Fleshman each pleaded guilty to conspiring to use unreasonable force against Burks. On May 8, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Frank W. Volk sentenced Wimmer to nine years in prison.

Fleshman is scheduled for sentencing on July 14.