BARBOUR COUNTY, Al.
A former correctional lieutenant today was arrested and has been charged with murder in the 2010 beating death of an inmate at Ventress Correctional Facility, Attorney General Luther Strange and Department of Corrections Commissioner Kim Thomas announced.
Michael Anthony Smith, 37, of Auburn was booked into the Lee County Jail on $500,000 bond in the death of Rocrast Mack, 24.
Smith was indicted after Strange's office presented evidence to a Barbour County grand jury on Monday.
The indictment charges Smith with intentionally causing the death of Mack on Aug. 4, 2010 "by beating him with his hands, fists, feet, and/or baton." Mack was taken to a hospital in Troy and later transferred to a hospital in Montgomery where he died the following morning.
Smith was one of six correctional officers who were either fired by the Alabama Department of Corrections in January or resigned when threatened with firing after an investigation into the incident.
"A senior officer is accused of not only violating his oath of office, but of being so brutal in his actions that he took the life of an inmate under circumstances that make murder the appropriate charge. This is a tragedy not only for the inmate's family, but for the entire Department of Corrections whose reputation was tarnished by this vicious crime. Neither the DOC nor this office tolerates the use of excessive force in controlling inmates, and when officers cross the line, they will face the serious consequences of their acts," Strange said.
Thomas said he has pushed for a state prosecution of the case.
"I am thankful and supportive of the attorney general's willingness to see that justice is served and that those responsible for this tragic event are held accountable," Thomas said.
If convicted, Smith faces a maximum penalty of 99 years to life imprisonment. Strange's office said additional information would not be released because the investigation is ongoing.
At the time of his death, Mack was serving a 20-year sentence after pleading guilty in 2010 to selling crack cocaine, according to court records.
Officials with the Montgomery-based Equal Justice Initiative, which represents indigent prisoners and has sought state and federal investigations into Mack's death, said they hope all who participated in Mack's death are brought to justice.
"We're encouraged that criminal charges have been filed for the horrific beating death of Mr. Mack. We hope all who are criminally liable are held accountable for this tragedy and that state officials will do as much as possible to eliminate violent assaults and beatings within state prisons," said EJI executive director Bryan Stevenson.
An Equal Justice report has said Mack died after he ''was confronted by a correctional officer who accused him of looking at her inappropriately.''
The officer ''initiated the assault by hitting Mr. Mack in the face,'' the report says witnesses told the EJI.
The report also stated that after the officer struck Mack a second time, Mack hit her back. The report said several officers then ''beat Mr. Mack until he was limp and lifeless.
''Another correctional officer was threatened by guards when he tried to stop the beating. One officer announced during the beating that he intended to kill Mr. Mack,'' the report stated.
Medical records obtained by The Associated Press showed Mack had multiple bruises to the head, torso, arms and legs, was missing at least one tooth and his left eye was swollen shut. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and never regained consciousness.
It was not immediately clear if Smith has an attorney. An arraignment has been scheduled for Nov. 3, according to court records.
A former correctional lieutenant today was arrested and has been charged with murder in the 2010 beating death of an inmate at Ventress Correctional Facility, Attorney General Luther Strange and Department of Corrections Commissioner Kim Thomas announced.
Michael Anthony Smith, 37, of Auburn was booked into the Lee County Jail on $500,000 bond in the death of Rocrast Mack, 24.
Smith was indicted after Strange's office presented evidence to a Barbour County grand jury on Monday.The indictment charges Smith with intentionally causing the death of Mack on Aug. 4, 2010 "by beating him with his hands, fists, feet, and/or baton." Mack was taken to a hospital in Troy and later transferred to a hospital in Montgomery where he died the following morning.
Smith was one of six correctional officers who were either fired by the Alabama Department of Corrections in January or resigned when threatened with firing after an investigation into the incident.
"A senior officer is accused of not only violating his oath of office, but of being so brutal in his actions that he took the life of an inmate under circumstances that make murder the appropriate charge. This is a tragedy not only for the inmate's family, but for the entire Department of Corrections whose reputation was tarnished by this vicious crime. Neither the DOC nor this office tolerates the use of excessive force in controlling inmates, and when officers cross the line, they will face the serious consequences of their acts," Strange said.
Thomas said he has pushed for a state prosecution of the case.
"I am thankful and supportive of the attorney general's willingness to see that justice is served and that those responsible for this tragic event are held accountable," Thomas said.
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| Rocrast Mack and his son, Rocrast Jr., in a 2009 photo. |
At the time of his death, Mack was serving a 20-year sentence after pleading guilty in 2010 to selling crack cocaine, according to court records.
Officials with the Montgomery-based Equal Justice Initiative, which represents indigent prisoners and has sought state and federal investigations into Mack's death, said they hope all who participated in Mack's death are brought to justice.
"We're encouraged that criminal charges have been filed for the horrific beating death of Mr. Mack. We hope all who are criminally liable are held accountable for this tragedy and that state officials will do as much as possible to eliminate violent assaults and beatings within state prisons," said EJI executive director Bryan Stevenson.
An Equal Justice report has said Mack died after he ''was confronted by a correctional officer who accused him of looking at her inappropriately.''
The officer ''initiated the assault by hitting Mr. Mack in the face,'' the report says witnesses told the EJI.
The report also stated that after the officer struck Mack a second time, Mack hit her back. The report said several officers then ''beat Mr. Mack until he was limp and lifeless.
''Another correctional officer was threatened by guards when he tried to stop the beating. One officer announced during the beating that he intended to kill Mr. Mack,'' the report stated.
Medical records obtained by The Associated Press showed Mack had multiple bruises to the head, torso, arms and legs, was missing at least one tooth and his left eye was swollen shut. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and never regained consciousness.
It was not immediately clear if Smith has an attorney. An arraignment has been scheduled for Nov. 3, according to court records.
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