A former Mississippi sheriff's deputy apologized and expressed how he now views himself before he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his part in torturing two Black men.
Hunter Elward and five other former law enforcement officers admitted to subjecting Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker to numerous acts of racist torture. The other defendants are still awaiting to learn their fate.
The officers had burst into a home in January 2023 after a neighbor complained that the men were staying in a home with a white woman.
They handcuffed, kicked, waterboarded and tased them and attempted to sexually assault with a sex toy over nearly two hours, the Associated Press reported.
They called them racial slurs, and warned them to stay out of Rankin County, prosecutors alleged.
Elward admitted to shoving a gun into Jenkins' mouth in a "mock execution." The gun fired in the victim's mouth. The bullet lacerated his tongue, broke his jaw and exited out of his neck.
Elward pleaded guilty in August to federal charges of discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy against rights, deprivation of rights under color of law, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice.
Elward addressed the victims during the sentencing.
"I'm so sorry," he said. "I don't want to get too personal with you, Michael. There's no telling what you've seen. I'm so sorry that I caused that. I hate myself for it. I hate that I gave you that. I accept all responsibility."
CNN reported that Parker stood up and replied, "We forgive you, man." Jenkins nodded.
U.S. District Judge Tom Lee called Elward's crimes "egregious and despicable."
The officers called themselves "The Goon Squad," federal prosecutors said. They allegedly boasted about being willing to use excessive force and not reporting it.
A lawyer for Parker read an impact statement Tuesday saying, "The very bad actions of the Rankin County 'Goon Squad' severely impacted me and left a scar on me forever."
It went on to say, "I don't know if I will ever be able to sleep at night. I fear I will be attacked again and even killed."
"No human being should ever be subjected to the kind of torturous, traumatizing and horrific acts of violence that were carried out by these law enforcement officers," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke.
