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KamaAina

(78,249 posts) Tue Jun 23, 2015, 07:30 PM Jun 2015

Sheriff Tells Family He’s 'Sorry' After His Officers Starved Their Mentally Ill Son to Death

http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/sheriff-tells-family-hes-sorry-after-his-officers-starved-their-mentally-ill-son

Keaton Farris, 25, was accused of trying to cash a $355 check that wasn’t written out him. After failing to appear for his court date, he was arrested on March 20.

Farris had no prior criminal record but had struggled with a history of mental illness. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder two years ago, but had improved with medication, according to family members.

20 days after being taken into custody, on April 8, Farris was found dead in his cell....

The “breakdown of policy” was actually a deliberate coverup of a man’s death in the custody of law enforcement.

4 replies

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Sheriff Tells Family He’s 'Sorry' After His Officers Starved Their Mentally Ill Son to Death (Original Post) KamaAina Jun 2015 OP

It sounds like it was dehydration more than starving gollygee Jun 2015 #1

How heartbreaking. polly7 Jun 2015 #2

Surely someone will pay for this. Frustratedlady Jun 2015 #3

What was he even doing in jail? AndreaCG Jun 2015 #4

gollygee

(22,336 posts)

1. It sounds like it was dehydration more than starving

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Tue Jun 23, 2015, 07:36 PM

Jun 2015

but that's a horrible way to die. How awful! I can't even imagine!

polly7

(20,582 posts)

2. How heartbreaking.

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Tue Jun 23, 2015, 07:49 PM

Jun 2015

I went to the website set up by his family ... he was an exceptional young man. Very sad for them and his many, many friends mentioned on the site.

http://www.keatonh2o.com/keaton.html

Frustratedlady

(16,254 posts)

3. Surely someone will pay for this.

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Tue Jun 23, 2015, 08:39 PM

Jun 2015

All because he didn't appear in court?

How far our correctional system has fallen. I wonder if this place was under private contract? What could he have done to deserve this? Makes no sense.

AndreaCG

(2,331 posts)

4. What was he even doing in jail?

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Tue Jun 23, 2015, 08:44 PM

Jun 2015

I don't know that state's penal code but that should be a misdemeanor in NYS if I remember correctly and for a first offense he almost certainly would have gotten released on his own recognizance, and possibly an offer to dismiss the charges if he stays out of the system for six months. That's in the Bronx anyway. The judges when I've observed them really do try to reserve bail for more serious charges, even when the defendant has a record much less when they don't

On edit I see he missed a court date. I can't tell you how many defendants miss multiple court dates and still get ROR often even with another arrest. I wonder how much the lawyer emphasized his mental state because that is all the more reason to try to make some sort of plea deal.

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