(AP) – Three former Arkansas juvenile detention officers have
pleaded not guilty to federal charges of conspiring to assault at least four
juvenile inmates.The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that 26-year-old Will Ray, 47-year-old
Thomas Farris and 42-year-old Jason Benton entered their pleas Tuesday in U.S.
District Court. The three men were indicted earlier this month.
pleaded not guilty to federal charges of conspiring to assault at least four
juvenile inmates.The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that 26-year-old Will Ray, 47-year-old
Thomas Farris and 42-year-old Jason Benton entered their pleas Tuesday in U.S.
District Court. The three men were indicted earlier this month.
Investigators say the assaults took place at the White River Juvenile
Detention Center in Batesville between 2012 and 2013.
The men are accused of pepper spraying, choking, shoving and grabbing
teenagers at the center.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Harris says none of the juveniles posed a
physical threat to anyone at the time they were allegedly assaulted.
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