In a disturbing case that has rocked the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, a group of former correctional officers has now been sentenced for their involvement in the death of an inmate known only by the initials Q.B.
The latest sentencing — that of 22-year-old Andrew Fleshman — marks another chapter in a tragic story of abuse and betrayal of public trust within the prison system.
Officer Sentenced for Assault That Led to Inmate’s Death
On Monday, Andrew Fleshman was sentenced to eight years and four months in federal prison for his role in a violent assault on Q.B. that occurred on March 1, 2022.
Fleshman had earlier pleaded guilty, admitting that he participated in beating the restrained inmate while he posed no threat.
The assault was carried out in an interview room after Q.B. had attempted to leave his assigned pod and was forcibly restrained by multiple officers.
According to his plea deal, Fleshman, along with other officers, deliberately used force to punish Q.B. rather than to control a threat.
The inmate was handcuffed and defenseless at the time of the beating.
A Pattern of Brutality and Conspiracy Uncovered
Fleshman wasn’t the only one involved. The case has led to a series of guilty pleas and sentencing hearings involving a wider conspiracy among correctional staff at the jail.
His co-conspirator, Steven Nicholas Wimmer, also pleaded guilty on the same day as Fleshman and was sentenced earlier this year to nine years in prison for his role in the incident.
The investigation uncovered systemic abuse, with six other former officers indicted by a federal grand jury for their part in Q.B.’s death.
These included Mark Holdren, Corey Snyder, and Johnathan Walters, all of whom pleaded guilty in late 2024 to using excessive force that directly led to the inmate’s death.
Sentences for this trio were handed down in early July 2025, ranging from 19 years and seven months to 21 years in prison.
Officers Who Failed to Act Also Faced Justice
Two other former staff members, Ashley Toney and Jacob Boothe, didn’t take part in the beating but admitted they failed to intervene and protect Q.B. from the ongoing assault.
For this, Toney received a six and a half year sentence, while Boothe was given three years, with both judgments handed down in June and July 2025.
A Lieutenant Found Guilty of Obstruction
The final blow came with the sentencing of Chad Lester, a former lieutenant at the jail, who was found guilty at trial of trying to cover up the circumstances surrounding Q.B.’s death.
A federal jury convicted him of three counts of obstruction of justice, and he was sentenced to 17 and a half years in May.
DOJ and FBI Lead Federal Civil Rights Push
The case was jointly led by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, with help from the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office.
Prosecutors involved in the case, including Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti and Trial Attorney Tenette Smith, worked in close partnership to hold each officer accountable.
A Message About Accountability in the Justice System
This sweeping series of convictions serves as a harsh reminder that correctional officers are not above the law.
The Justice Department has made it clear that abuse of power in U.S. prisons will not be tolerated — and those responsible will face serious consequences.
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