CHARLESTON, W.Va.—- A former correctional officer from the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver pleaded guilty Tuesday in front of U.S. District Judge Joseph Goodwin for his role in the 2022 beating death of pretrial inmate Quantez Burks.
Corey Snyder is the seventh former correctional officer to plead guilty to one count of conspiring with other officers to violate Burks’s civil rights which resulted in Burks’ death.
According to court documents, Snyder responded to a call for officer assistance on March 1, 2022, when Burks tried to push pass officers to leave C-pod which was a housing unit for the inmates.
When Snyder arrived at C-pod, officers were already using force to restrain and handcuff Burks. Upon his arrival Snyder also began using force, including putting his arm around Burks neck and taking him to the floor.
After that they took Burks to an interview room, known as a blind spot, where Jonathan Walters, another correctional officer charged in the case and who has also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate civil rights, they conspired to violate Burks civil rights by unlawfully punishing Burks for his attempt to leave the pod.
While in the interview room, officers struck Burks in the head multiple times, kicked, knee-struck, pulled and twisted Burks finger and even sprayed Burks O.C. spray while he was restrained, handcuffed and posed no threat to anyone.
After the interview room, the officers brought Burks to A-pod, which Snyder and Walters both admitted in court that they knew the pod was another blind spot. During the transport to A-pod, Burks became limp, so officers carried him. Upon arrival Walters admitted to lowering Burks and hitting his head on the metal door frame and dropping him on the ground.
Both, Snyder and Walters, also admitted that prior to the beating death of Burks they knew that officers brought inmates and pretrial detainees who had engaged in misconduct to those blind spots and used unreasonable force without being on camera.
According to both Snyder and Walters plea agreement they both face up to 30 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Snyder’s sentencing date is set for February 5 at 11 a.m. in front of Judge Goodwin.
With Snyder’s plea hearing done, that leaves former lieutenant Chad Lester facing a trial on the charges relating to the cover-up of the unreasonable use of force which caused bodily injury to and death of Burks. Lester’s trial date is set for Dec. 10.