Evergreen Reporter

The Justice Department has announced the indictment of former Crenshaw County Jail Administrator Christian Alexander Porter, aged 33. The federal grand jury in Montgomery, Alabama, charged Porter with assaulting a handcuffed and compliant inmate at the Crenshaw County Jail. Additional charges include falsifying a report and making false statements to both state and federal investigators.

According to the indictment, on or around October 12, 2021, Porter allegedly used unreasonable force against a pre-trial detainee while acting under color of law. This action is considered a violation of the 14th Amendment. It is further alleged that Porter falsified a use of force report to conceal his actions. He is also accused of providing false statements to investigators on November 18, 2021, and June 28, 2022.

If convicted, Porter could face severe penalties: up to 10 years in prison for the civil rights violation, 20 years for falsifying the report and lying to state investigators, and five years for false statements made to federal investigators. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge after reviewing U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

The announcement was made by Acting Assistant Attorney General Kathleen Wolfe of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama, and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Mobile Field Office.

The case is currently under investigation by the FBI Mobile Field Office. Prosecuting attorneys include Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts for the Middle District of Alabama and Trial Attorney Lia Rettammel from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

It is important to note that an indictment represents only an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.