______________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CRT
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2015
(202) 514-2007
WWW.JUSTICE.GOV
TTY (866) 544-5309
TWO FORMER JAILERS AT THE KENTUCKY RIVER REGIONAL JAIL INDICTED
ON CHARGES RELATED TO THE DEATH OF A PRETRIAL DETAINEE
WASHINGTON The Justice Department announced today that a federal grand jury in
London, Kentucky, has indicted two former deputy jailers at the Kentucky River Regional Jail on
charges related to the July 9, 2013, in-custody death of Larry Trent, a pretrial detainee at the jail.
The indictment charges Damon Hickman, 38, and William Howell, 59, with causing Trents
death, and charges Hickman with attempting to cover up his involvement in the death.
Hickman and Howell are charged with federal civil rights violations for depriving Trent
of his civil rights. Count one of the indictment charges Hickman and Howell of failing to
provide Trent with necessary medical care after he was injured, thereby acting with deliberate
indifference to a substantial risk of harm to Trent, which resulted in Trents death. Count two of
the indictment also charges both defendants with using excessive force against Trent, resulting in
bodily injury to him.
Hickman is additionally charged with one count of obstruction of justice for falsifying an
official log by indicating that observations of Trent were being made and that Trent was 10-4,
meaning that he was safe and not in obvious physical distress, when in fact Trent was not 10-4.
Hickman and Howell face a maximum penalty of life in prison for the death-resulting
civil rights offense, and face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for assaulting Trent.
Hickman faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for falsification of records in a federal
investigation.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless
proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the FBIs London Resident Agency, with assistance
provided by the Kentucky State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Sanjay
Patel of the Civil Rights Divisions Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hydee
Hawkins of the Eastern District of Kentucky.
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