In a serious blow to justice, Chad Lester, once a lieutenant at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, has been sentenced to 210 months in prison.
The sentence comes after his involvement in trying to cover up a violent assault by correctional officers that tragically led to the death of inmate Quantez Burks back on March 1, 2022.
Guilty on Multiple Obstruction Charges After Federal Trial
Lester, 35, from Odd, West Virginia, was convicted by a federal jury earlier this year on three felony charges related to obstructing justice.
These included conspiracy to tamper with witnesses, witness tampering itself, and giving false statements.
During the trial, evidence showed that Lester didn’t just stay quiet — he actively threatened officers under his command, pressured them to lie, and gave false information himself during interviews with internal investigators and the FBI.
Other Officers Plead Guilty and Testify Against Lester
The case revealed a broader network of wrongdoing inside the jail.
Seven correctional officers involved in the assault on Burks pleaded guilty, and some testified against Lester during his trial.
Back in November 2024, three officers — Mark Holdren, Corey Snyde, and Johnathan Walters — admitted to conspiring to use excessive force that caused Burks’ death. Their sentencing is scheduled for June 16, 2025.
Meanwhile, Ahley Toney and Jacob Boothe pleaded guilty in August 2024 to violating Burks’ civil rights by failing to step in during the attack.
Their sentencing is set for June 9, 2025.
Additional Guilty Pleas and Sentencing Dates
Steven Nicholas Wimmer and Andrew Fleshman also pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges connected to the assault.
Wimmer was sentenced recently to 108 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Frank W. Volk, while Fleshman’s sentencing is scheduled for July 14, 2025.
Justice Department and U.S. Attorney Speak Out on Case
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon praised the work of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in handling the case.
“This defendant wrongfully decided to obstruct an investigation into a fatal assault of an inmate,” Dhillon said, highlighting the team’s dedication.
Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston for the Southern District of West Virginia expressed disappointment in Lester’s actions, stating, “On the defendant’s watch, correctional officers killed an inmate, and the defendant conspired with them to cover up their crimes.
He violated the public’s trust in the law enforcement system he had sworn to uphold.”
FBI and Justice Department Collaboration Led to Prosecution
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office and Charleston Resident Agency. Deputy Chief Christine M.
Siscaretti and Trial Attorney Tenette Smith from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case in close cooperation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.