Another former corrections officer at the Southern Regional Jail in Raleigh County pled guilty this week to violating the civil rights of an inmate, resulting in the man’s death in March 2022.
Mark Holdren entered a guilty plea on Wednesday. He is the fifth ex-corrections officer to plead guilty in connection to the death of the 37-year-old detainee identified as Q.B.
According to court documents, when Q.B. attempted to leave his assigned pod, an officer called for backup – and several officers used unreasonable force to restrain him.
Holdren admitted he and others then brought Q.B. to a blind spot in the jail.
“His role in the beating included a number of what’s called knee strikes, basically pushing his knee on [the inmate’s] body in various places for a period of time,” said William Thompson, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia.
“This was not a one-two punch-kick type of thing. This was a continued beating that lasted for quite a period of time,” Thompson added.
According to court documents, as Holdren and other officers were transporting Q.B. to another blind spot, he “went limp and went down to the floor.” Holdren and other officers picked him up, still handcuffed, and carried him, then dropped him on the concrete floor where he was kicked again although he appeared to be unresponsive and not breathing.
The documents indicate paramedics were called to render aid, but Q.B. died from his injuries.
Holdren was indicted on six counts stemming from his role in the assault and pled guilty to one count. He faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced in February.
“The victim in this case died, so there should be severe consequences,” Thompson said.
Two other ex-officers are scheduled to enter guilty pleas next week.