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A Just Outcome To Shocking Jail Case

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 8, 2008

What Hillsborough County Jail Deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones did last January was an outrage. While searching a partially paralyzed man during booking, she dumped Brian Sterner out of his wheelchair, as casually as if he was a bag of dirty laundry. The Sheriff's Office quickly and rightly charged her with abusing the disabled, a third-degree felony that could bring up to a five-year sentence.

Yet the chilling incident - captured on video - seemed at odds with a less-noted fact: The deputy, who resigned after the matter was reported, had a solid record of service during her 22 years at the jail.

So the plea agreement reached in the case, with the approval of the victim, seems appropriate. Sterner deserves credit for not judging Marshall-Jones solely on her offensive behavior that day. What she did to Sterner was unconscionable, but people can make terrible mistakes, especially when their jobs are as stressful as a detention deputy's.

According to the agreement, Marshall-Jones must complete 100 hours of community service working with the disabled and has agreed to give up her law enforcement certification and never work as a detention deputy again. If she complies with the terms, the charges will be dropped. She'll have no record and will serve no time.

But make no mistake: She is being punished. She has lost her law-enforcement career and has already been subjected to widespread public scorn.

Following reports about Sterner, other inmates accused the jail of mistreatment. But only the facts in the wheelchair case seem clear-cut. Nevertheless, Sheriff David Gee ordered an independent review of the policies and practices at Hillsborough County Jail, and it should uncover any problems. The jail has long enjoyed a reputation for professionalism, but this incident demonstrates that things can go wrong even in a nationally recognized operation.

Sterner can take satisfaction in knowing the jail will do its utmost to ensure the wheelchair-bound are treated with dignity and respect. He can take satisfaction in knowing that Marshall-Jones is being held accountable in a way that will make her better understand what the disabled must endure.

It is an appropriate outcome to a case that offended the community's sensibilities.

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