7 Ex-Prison Guards Charged With Manslaughter in Boot Camp Death

By Jeralyn, Section Juvenile Offenders
Posted on Tue Nov 28, 2006 at 02:23:11 PM EST
Tags: juvenile offenders, boot camp, Martin Anderson (all tags)

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7 former prison guards and a nurse have been charged with manslaughter in the beating death of juvenile offender Martin Lee Anderson, age 14.

The surveillance tape showed guards kneeing and punching the boy repeatedly during a 30-minute encounter. Guards said he was uncooperative and had refused to participate in exercises.

The death sparked protests at the state Capitol and led to the elimination of the state's military-style boot camp system and the resignation of Florida's top law enforcement officer. If convicted, the former guards and the nurse - who authorities say watched the melee - could get up to 30 years in prison.

Lee later collapsed and died in the excercise yard. Lee was incarcerated for violating probation on a theft case. Here's much more on the case. Here's the video of the beating.

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7 Ex-Prison Guards Charged With Manslaughter in Boot Camp Death | 9 comments (9 topical)

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Score 1 for Student Activism (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by john horse on Tue Nov 28, 2006 at 04:53:44 PM EST

One of the reasons that this case was not swept under the rug was that FAMU, FSU, and TCC students would not let it be swept under the rug. They marched on the capital. They held a sit-in at Governor Jeb Bush's office. Finally, when it looked like nothing was happening, the NAACP threatened to hold a demonstration at governor-elect Charlie Crist's inaugural.

: yep... (4.00 / 1) (#5)
by cowboyx on Wed Nov 29, 2006 at 07:54:39 AM EST

I'm part of a group of FSU students working on a documentary on Martin...which is turning more into a tale of cronyism and a lack of accountability. We were in on the planning meeting for the protest in Oct, You're absolutely right, the protests were well organized and very effective. Now I need to get a copy of today's Miami Herald and read Mark Caputo's take on the story.
I figured the nurse would go down for sure if anyone did...but this was a total shock. No one expected something to something happen so suddenly.

It's (none / 0) (#1)
by aw on Tue Nov 28, 2006 at 02:44:30 PM EST

really disturbing that a nurse wouldn't do something besides watch a 14-year-old beaten to death. It's kind of like doctors who assist torturers.

Isn't it time for the medical professions to strictly forbid this kind of behavior with a new oath or something?

It's about time (none / 0) (#2)
by Sailor on Tue Nov 28, 2006 at 02:50:17 PM EST

Sheesh, it only took 11 months.

These guys... (none / 0) (#3)
by Edger on Tue Nov 28, 2006 at 03:11:49 PM EST

...are such heros. Jeezus. Whatever happend to 'pick on someone your own size'?

7 big guys on one scfrawney little 14 year old?

Cowards.

And (none / 0) (#6)
by kdog on Wed Nov 29, 2006 at 05:33:10 PM EST

Monsters.


Prison populations... (none / 0) (#7)
by Edger on Wed Nov 29, 2006 at 05:40:10 PM EST

...don't have much love for prison guards.

Or for child killers.


Much love for bloggers? (none / 0) (#8)
by Tim on Wed Nov 29, 2006 at 09:36:13 PM EST

You don't have much love for prison guards? WHY, were you in prison or are you just painting a group of people with the same brush? That would be like someone lumping bloggers into an adverse group without justification or cause. MOST prison workers like most inmates are decent people, so please go easy with the sterotyping.

These private prisons have much more of this type of thing than government run prisons. Private prisons have warped motivation to assist inmates or treat them fairly in the first place. Inmates are JUST profit. What kind of a mission statement is that for a prison?


: Well, I guess I SHOULD have said... (none / 0) (#9)
by Edger on Wed Nov 29, 2006 at 09:44:17 PM EST

...in my experience.
Happy now?