Former Deputies Plead Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Violations in Augusta
In a significant development for the Richmond County community, two former deputies of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office have recently pleaded guilty to federal civil rights charges tied to an alarming incident that occurred at the Charles D. Webster Detention Center.
Who Were the Deputies?
The two deputies in question are Daniel D’Aversa, 52, and Melissa Morello, 27. Each of them await sentencing after admitting their guilt in front of a federal court. This is no minor issue, as both are facing serious repercussions under the law. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, they were charged with deprivation of civil rights under color of law, which is quite a mouthful but fundamentally means they misused their authority as law enforcement officials.
The Incident Unfolds
So, what exactly happened? The incident dates back to May 7, 2022, when both D’Aversa and Morello were on duty at the detention center, working together with other jail staff. Their primary task that day was to manage inmates who were reportedly causing flooding in a certain area of the jail. However, things took a dark turn in the midst of this chaos.
While handling the situation, a pretrial detainee, referred to in documents as Victim 1, was handcuffed and lying face down. According to the plea agreements, accusations state that D’Aversa and Morello shouted to their fellow staff members that Victim 1 wanted to have his handcuffs taken off. This clearly was not just a slip-up. Morello tried to unlock those handcuffs, intending to give a colleague a reason to physically engage with the detainee.
The Assault
When Morello was unsuccessful in her attempt to unlock the cuffs, another deputy, known as Deputy 2, intervened and removed them. However, the situation escalated quickly. Deputy 1 then proceeded to repeatedly punch Victim 1 and put him in a chokehold. Shockingly, both D’Aversa and Morello stood by and did nothing to stop this brutal assault, even though they had every chance to intervene.
Possible Sentencing Ahead
The implications are dire for the two former deputies. The charges they face could lead to sentences of up to 10 years in federal prison. Additionally, they might have to pay substantial fines and restitution and could be placed under supervision for up to three years once they complete their prison time. It’s worth noting that there is absolutely no chance of parole in the federal system, meaning they could see some considerable time behind bars.
What’s Next?
The final chapter in this legal saga is yet to unfold. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall is currently in the process of scheduling sentencing, contingent on a thorough pre-sentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services. The entire community is watching closely as this story continues, eager to see what steps will be taken in the name of justice.
Community Impact
This incident raises serious concerns about accountability and ethics within law enforcement. The entire community of Augusta is grappling with the disturbing reality that those who are supposed to uphold the law can also violate the rights of individuals in their care. As our community moves forward, many are left wondering how to ensure that such a situation does not happen again.
As we await further developments, it’s clear this case serves as a critical reminder of the importance of oversight and the significant responsibilities that come with being a law enforcement officer.
