West Memphis, Ark., Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Felony Civil Rights Charge

In yet another blow to West Memphis, Ark., law enforcement, former Crittenden County Sherriff officer Shannon Houchin pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to a felony civil rights charge.

The charges stemmed from a May 2006 incident in which Houchin assaulted an arrestee while at the Crittenden County Detention Facility. Houchin faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $250, 000.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division said, "It is unacceptable for law enforcement officials to willfully abuse those committed to their custody. The overwhelming majority of correctional officers dispatch their difficult duties with honor and professionalism. The Justice Department will aggressively prosecute those who cross the line and violate federal law."

The guilty plea is the latest in a long line of problems for the West Memphis law enforcement community. Last month, Sgt. Erik Sammis of the West Memphis Police Department shot and killed 12-year-old DeAunta Farrow after claiming to see a gun. Farrow's mother said that he was carrying only chips and a soda. Sammis and another officer were on an unrelated stake-out. The case has drawn the attention of civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton. A special prosecutor has been named to investigate the shooting, and the FBI has taken over the investigation into the shooting. Public outrage has continue to grow and citizens organized a "No Buy Day" boycott of West Memphis businesses.

Since the name of the officer involve in the shooting has become public, other allegations of abuse against Sammis have come to light.

Sammis was one of the officers involved in a lawsuit scheduled to go to trial next summer, where an elderly man claims he was assaulted during a meth lab bust. Three other lawsuits against Sammis have been filed.

Also this month, DNA results from the infamous West Memphis Three murder case have been released. The DNA tested does not match any of the accused, but one hair removed from a ligature used to bind Michael Moore matched Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of victim Stevie Branch. Brent Davis, West Memphis Prosecutor, says the state remains convince that those behind bars are guilty, and that Terry Hobbs is not involve in the crimes. Hobbs claims that the hair was present because all three boys were frequent visitors to his home.
Source: U.S. DOJ Press Release: (http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2007/July/07_crt_537%20%20%20.html)