Columbus, OH – A former deputy with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Matthew Carey, has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly violating the civil rights of a pretrial detainee in the county jail. Carey, 27, of Grove City, Ohio, is facing a three-count indictment, which includes two charges of depriving an inmate of his civil rights and one count of conspiring to do so.
The indictment, unsealed yesterday, details actions that occurred while Carey was employed as a deputy at the Franklin County Corrections Center in March 2022. The charges center on Carey’s alleged role in disclosing sensitive information about an inmate’s pending charges, which led to a predictable assault by other detainees.
According to the indictment, Carey revealed to another detainee that the victim was facing charges related to a sex offense. The indictment asserts that Carey knew the victim was at heightened risk for physical harm because detainees charged with sex offenses are often targeted by other inmates. Carey allegedly had no legitimate law enforcement reason for disclosing this information, which was not part of his official duties.
The indictment further states that after making the disclosure, Carey took no steps to protect the victim from the predictable retaliation by other detainees. The actions allegedly set in motion an assault on the victim, who suffered bodily injury as a result.
In addition to the charge of conspiracy, Carey faces two civil rights violations. One charge alleges that Carey deprived the victim of his right to be free from unreasonable force while in custody. The other charge accuses Carey of deliberate indifference to the substantial risk of serious harm the victim faced after the disclosure, claiming he failed to take reasonable actions to protect the detainee from harm.
Matthew Carey’s actions, if proven, represent a severe breach of the trust placed in law enforcement officers to safeguard the rights and safety of individuals in their custody. Under the law, detainees are entitled to protection from harm, especially when it is foreseeable, such as in cases where an inmate’s charges may provoke retaliation from others.
Federal prosecutors are emphasizing that Carey’s alleged misconduct violates the constitutional rights of the detainee, and the Justice Department has committed to holding law enforcement officers accountable for abuses of power.
“Deputy Carey’s alleged conduct is a betrayal of the public trust,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Kenneth L. Parker. “As a law enforcement officer, he had a duty to protect those in his custody and ensure their safety. Instead, he allegedly used his position to incite harm.”
Matthew Carey has not yet entered a plea to the charges. If convicted, he faces serious consequences, including potential prison time and substantial fines. Each of the civil rights violations carries a maximum sentence of up to three years in prison, while the conspiracy charge could add additional time.
Carey is set to face trial, where the government will present evidence of his alleged misconduct and the resulting harm to the victim. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio with support from the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
