Former Canadian County Jailer Sentenced to Weekend Incarceration for Violating Civil Rights of Pretrial Detainee

OKLAHOMA CITY – JASON BARBER, 42, of Bethany, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to serve a total of 30 days in prison during a one-year term of probation for his use of excessive force against a pretrial detainee, announced Robert J. Troester, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

On October 31, 2017, the United States filed an information charging Barber with a criminal civil rights offense stemming from his conduct as a ranking Lieutenant and Correctional Officer at the Canadian County Jail in El Reno, Oklahoma in 2014.  On December 23, 2014, according to the information, L.T. was an individual held at the jail after an arrest but before conviction of a crime.  The information alleges that Barber willfully deprived L.T. of his constitutional right to due process of law when he struck L.T. during a disciplinary hearing.  Because Barber was acting under color of law, his unreasonable use of force violated federal criminal law.  In the absence of bodily injury, the offense was a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison.  On November 16, 2017, Barber pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge in the information. 

At today’s hearing, United States Magistrate Judge Shon T. Erwin sentenced Barber to one year of probation, with a total of 30 days during weekends to be spent in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons ("BOP").  Beginning on Friday, August 10, Barber will spend weekends at a BOP facility until he serves a total of 30 days’ incarceration.  Judge Erwin ordered Barber not to possess a firearm during the one-year probationary term, and further ordered Barber to submit to anger management counseling as determined by the United States Probation Office.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Investigations Division of the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office.  It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia E. Barry.  Reference is made to court records for further information.