Justice Served After Deadly Inmate Assault Exposes Corruption in West Virginia Jail

In a grim reminder that unchecked government power can lead to deadly consequences, two former correctional officers in West Virginia have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their roles in the brutal assault and death of an inmate. Mark Holdren received 20 years and Johnathan Walters 21 years after admitting to violently abusing Quantez Burks in March 2022 at the Southern Regional Jail.Burks, a pretrial detainee charged with wanton endangerment, was subjected to violent beatings inside a jail interview room with no surveillance cameras—a deliberate blind spot exploited by officers like Holdren and Walters. The abuse included repeated blows...