In-depth Examination: The Charges Against Former EKCC Sergeant Eric L. Nantell

A significant disclosure shook the Kentucky justice system as Eric L. Nantell, a former sergeant of the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex (EKCC), stood before a federal jury in Lexington. On the scales of justice balanced three counts of obstruction, linked to accusations of his role in concealing an egregious assault on a restrained inmate – the assault being allegedly conducted by officers under Nantell’s supervision.

Turn back the calendar to July 24, 2018. The walls of the EKCC echoed with a chilling scenario. A nonviolent inmate, shackled and restrained, laid face-down within the confines of a prison shower cell. The indictment alleges that while this helpless prisoner was subject to an assault by lower-ranking officers, Nantell, holding the fort as the senior officer, chose not to intervene. This failure, followed by alleged attempts to bury the incident, constitutes the nucleus of the charges he now faces.

However, the accusations run deeper. It is contended that Nantell actively wove a web of falsehood, deceiving not just one, but multiple parties. Among those he is accused of misleading are the EKCC supervisor given the responsibility of investigating the incident, a Kentucky State Police (KSP) detective, and even an FBI special agent.

The price for such falsehoods is steep. Nantell could be staring down the barrel of a sentence up to 20 years for each charge of lying to state officials, with an additional five years potentially added for misleading the FBI.

In a notable announcement, the Justice Department’s team, including Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke and U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky, laid out the charges. They were joined by Assistant Director Luis Quesada from the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Special Agent Jodi Cohen from the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Colonel Phillip Burnett Jr., Commissioner of the KSP.

A power triad of the FBI, the KSP, and the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet were the engines behind the investigation, which now sees Assistant U.S. Attorney Zach Dembo, Mary Melton for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, steering the prosecution’s ship.

Though the indictment is damning, it is but an allegation at present. Nantell, like any defendant, stands innocent until his guilt is proven beyond reasonable doubt. As this saga unfolds, it underscores the intrinsic value of transparency, justice, and accountability within our correctional institutions.

Office of Public Affairs. “Former Eastern Kentucky Correctional Supervisor Indicted for Covering Up the Assault of a Restrained Inmate.” US Justice Dept, July 10, 2023.

Engage with us at @coolbruthas as we continue to delve into the nuanced corners of our legal system, aiming to uphold transparency and justice. We encourage you to join in the discussion and contribute your valuable insights. Remember to always Stay Fresh, Stay True.