Eight Corcoran Prison guards acquitted of staging prison fights

Corcoran Prison surveillance video shows a fight that ended with guards shooting and killing an inmate in 1994

June 9, 2000
Web posted at: 10:05 PM EDT (0205 GMT)

By correspondent Greg LaMotte

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Eight prison guards at Corcoran Prison near Fresno, California, were acquitted Friday of setting up gladiator-style fights among inmates.

Among the charges the eight were accused of were violating the civil rights of the prisoners by setting up prison yard fights among warring prison gangs for entertainment.

The charges, filed by the federal government, stemmed from a 1994 incident at Corcoran where an inmate was shot and killed by a prison guard during a prison yard fight.

A former Corcoran prison guard told federal authorities the fights were among rival prison gangs who were allowed into the workout yard at the same time. He said guards knew when fights were going to happen and did nothing to stop them, then used the fights as an excuse to use their weapons.

From 1989 to 1994 seven prisoners were shot to death by prison guards at Corcoran in the prison's workout yard.

The trial lasted 31 days.

For more US news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select.

See related sites about US

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.