A former high-ranking guard at a federal prison in Virginia has been sentenced to three years in prison for failing to help an inmate who suffered a medical emergency and later died, the Justice Department announced Tuesday. The incident took place in 2021 at a medium-security prison in Petersburg, where Michael Anderson, 52, served as the second-highest ranking officer.
According to court filings by federal prosecutors, the inmate, identified only as W.W., experienced sudden symptoms of incoherence and the inability to stand. He continuously fell inside his cell and later in a suicide-watch cell. Prosecutors stated that during this time, W.W. fell headfirst into a doorframe. Despite being naked and covered in bruises and abrasions, no correctional officer responded to his medical emergency or provided aid for nearly an hour and forty minutes.
Tragically, W.W. died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head, which a medical examiner determined could have been prevented if he had been hospitalized and examined earlier. The inmate’s cellmate, correctional officers, and suicide watch observers had alerted prison supervisors and requested help, but Anderson and other supervisors failed to take action.
In July, Anderson pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of civil rights. Prosecutors recommended a sentence of nearly five to six years in prison, which fell within the guideline range. Anderson’s attorney, Jessica Richardson, acknowledged his failure to act but argued that the inmate’s death was a collective failure on the part of multiple staff members. Richardson emphasized Anderson’s otherwise stellar record and lack of disciplinary issues throughout his career.
The sentencing of the former guard highlights the seriousness of neglecting an inmate’s medical emergency and the need for accountability within the prison system. The case serves as a reminder of the responsibility that correctional officers hold in ensuring the safety and well-being of those under their care.
