Former corrections officer at Walker County jail in Alabama, Joshua Conner Jones, has agreed to plead guilty to charges related to the death of mentally ill inmate, Tony Mitchell. Mitchell died of hypothermia after being held naked in a concrete cell for two weeks in January 2023. Jones agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to deprive an inmate of their rights in Mitchell’s death, as well as another rights-deprivation charge related to the assault of another inmate.
The plea agreement revealed that there were five co-conspirators involved in the mistreatment that led to Mitchell’s death, suggesting that more charges could be forthcoming. Jones’ defense lawyer could not comment on the agreement, and the inmate’s name was not disclosed in court documents.
Mitchell, 33, was found almost naked, wet, cold, and covered in feces on the cement floor without a mat or blanket. Despite showing signs of distress, the conspirators did not take action to alleviate his suffering, ultimately leading to his death.
The family’s attorney, Jon C. Goldfarb, expressed shock at the details outlined in the plea agreement, stating that the family knew what happened to Mitchell but seeing it in writing was still shocking.
Mitchell, who had a history of drug addiction, was arrested after a welfare check was requested by a cousin as he appeared to be suffering a mental breakdown and had fired a shot at deputies. Prosecutors revealed that the co-conspirators justified Mitchell’s maltreatment by referencing the fact that he had shot at cops.
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