CITIZEN STAFF REPORT

LEXINGTON — Two ex-corrections officers received prison sentences Nov. 8 for assaulting inmates at the United States Penitentiary Big Sandy in Debord.

Samuel J. Patrick, 41, of West Van Lear, and Clinton L. Pauley, 42, of Ironton, Ohio, received prison sentences of 36 and 40 months, respectively.

This sentencing follows their guilty pleas and participation in the trial of another co-defendant earlier this year.

Court evidence revealed that Patrick and Pauley used excessive force against two inmates in separate incidents in 2021.

On March 30, 2021, the officers assaulted an inmate by spraying him in the face with pepper spray and kicking him in the head and upper body. Witnesses, including those who assaulted the inmates, testified that the inmate was not a threat and was compliant and was assaulted for walking too slowly to his cell rather than for any legitimate penological purpose.

On April 29, 2021, the officers assaulted a second inmate by elbowing him in the head and punching him in the body. The victim of that assault had requested protection from other inmates. When the victim, who is white, revealed that he used to affiliate with Black gangs, Patrick referred to him as a “race traitor,” after which Patrick and Pauley both repeatedly struck him in the head and body.

Additionally, Pauley admitted to assaulting a third inmate in an unrelated event.

On March 30 and April 29, 2021, Patrick and Pauley’s co-defendant, Lieutenant Kevin C. Pearce, 39, of Inez, was present and saw his lower-ranking officers using force out of anger. Afterward, Pearce helped them try to cover up what happened by writing false reports, backing up their cover stories and pressuring subordinate officers to join the cover-ups. Pearce was found guilty at trial of writing false reports that covered up the assaults. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 5.