Guards Acquitted in Jail Death

Three prison guards were acquitted Friday on charges they stomped an inmate to death in his cell to keep him from exposing brutality behind bars.

The jury deliberated for 3 1/2 hours before returning its verdict in the murder trial of Capt. Timothy Thornton, 36, and Sgts. J.D. Griffis and Charles Brown, both 28.

The former Florida State Prison officers hugged their attorneys after the verdicts were read.

All were charged with second-degree murder in the July 17, 1999, slaying of inmate Frank Valdes, 36, who was found dead after what prosecutors allege were two violent confrontations with guards.

Valdes had received broken ribs and other fractures and internal injuries, and his upper body was covered with boot prints. Prosecutors said he was beaten to keep him from talking to reporters about mistreatment of inmates.

The guards were also accused of conspiracy to commit aggravated battery, battery on an inmate and official misconduct.

Defense attorneys had argued that some of Valdes’ injuries were caused by his climbing the bars in his cell and throwing himself onto the floor and his bunk.

Before deliberating, the jurors were shown photos of inmates who had testified against the guards.

“There is your reasonable doubt,” defense attorney Gloria Fletcher said during closing arguments.

But two medical examiners determined Valdes was stomped to death.

“Once you get this many rib fractures, you can’t breathe,” Dr. Ronald Wright, a former South Florida medical examiner, testified.

“The murderers are here,” McMahon said.

Valdes was imprisoned for the 1987 murder of Fred Griffis, 40. He was not related to defendant Jason Griffis.

Fred Griffis, a corrections officer at Glades Correctional Institution, was shot to death when Valdes and another man attempted to free an inmate in a prison van outside a West Palm Beach doctor’s office.