Officer Charged After Juvenile Was Killed by Fellow Detainees

An officer at a Florida juvenile detention center was arrested Monday on federal civil rights charges after a 17-year-old died in a beating by other inmates that was allegedly encouraged by the officer using a bounty and reward system. Per the AP, an indictment unsealed Monday accuses Antwan Lenard Johnson, 35, of conspiracy and deprivation of the teenager's rights under color of law. Johnson had an initial court hearing Monday but did not enter a plea. His lawyer declined comment. The indictment claims Johnson used bounties
and rewards so inmates at the Miami-Dade Regional Juvenile Detention Center would use violence to punish bad behavior by other inmates. The 17-year-old who died was identified only as "E.R." in court documents but a Department of Juvenile Justice statement identified him as Elord Revolte.

Prosecutors said Revolte was fatally assaulted by other juveniles in August 2015 because of unspecified "statements and behavior" that challenged Johnson's authority. The inmate rewards included extra recreation time, such as watching more television, and snacks. Miami US Attorney Benjamin Greenberg told reporters the inmate assault system was "commonly" used by officers at the detention center to enforce their authority and ensure obedience. He said the officers used code words, such as "off my face," and gestures to indicate to the inmates that he wanted someone assaulted. Greenberg would not comment on whether other officers at the Miami detention center are under investigation. Each of the two federal charges carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

(More juvenile detention stories.)