Former ECI Lieutenant Jermaine Sturgis Sentenced To 33 Months

Federal prison time is now on the calendar for Jermaine Sturgis, a 41-year-old former lieutenant at Eastern Correctional Institution in Westover, after a jury found he helped cover up the beating of an inmate. On Monday, June 1, 2026, Sturgis was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison and one year of supervised release for conspiring to erase video evidence that showed a fellow officer assaulting a prisoner. Prosecutors say the deleted recording documented the inmate’s injuries during medical treatment and was later removed by staff, a move that has renewed questions about oversight at the Eastern Shore prison. The criminal case is unfolding alongside a still-pending civil-rights lawsuit filed by the inmate who was attacked.

Federal conviction and charges

After a five-day trial, a federal jury convicted Sturgis of conspiracy to obstruct justice and making false statements, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors told jurors that on July 12, 2021, officers recorded the injured inmate while he was being treated by medical staff, then later agreed to get rid of the footage. Each count carries a statutory maximum of five years in prison, though the actual sentence is set by the judge after weighing federal guidelines and arguments from both prosecution and defense.

Sentence and statement from prosecutors

U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox ultimately imposed a 33-month prison term on Sturgis, followed by one year of supervised release, according to local coverage. U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes said Sturgis “obstructed a lawful investigation” and emphasized that public officials who betray the public’s trust can expect to be prosecuted, per WMAR2 News. Prosecutors also maintain that Sturgis lied to both state and federal investigators while the case was under review.

Sentences for co-defendants

Sturgis was not the only officer to face consequences. The case spun off a series of guilty pleas and sentencings for other staff members who took part in the cover-up. Samuel Warren, the officer accused of carrying out the beating, received 15 months in federal prison. Neil Daubach was sentenced to 12 months and one day. Two others, Daric Evans and David Quillen, were given probationary terms that included brief stints of home confinement, according to reporting in The Baltimore Banner. The varied outcomes reflect different levels of cooperation with prosecutors and whether defendants chose to plead guilty or go to trial.

What prosecutors say happened

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and court filings, the trouble started when an officer confronted the inmate over a mask violation. The inmate was handcuffed, taken to a cell, and struck, leaving visible injuries. While the inmate was later treated by medical staff, officers recorded him on video as he cried and described the assault. Prosecutors say several officers viewed that recording, then agreed to delete it and give investigators a false story about what happened. The injured man subsequently filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit describing both the beating and the alleged cover-up.

Broader implications

Advocates and legal observers say the string of prosecutions fits into a longer pattern of federal scrutiny at Eastern Correctional Institution and keeps the spotlight on ongoing concerns about oversight, training, and accountability at the complex. Those issues have been documented in reporting by Prison Legal News. Attorneys for the injured inmate argue that the criminal convictions bolster their civil case and could shape negotiations with the state over possible reforms or settlement. Lawmakers and corrections officials are expected to watch closely to see whether the fallout leads to changes in supervision practices or in how evidence, such as surveillance and medical videos, is handled.

With Sturgis now headed to federal prison, the criminal side of the saga is largely resolved, at least for the officers involved. The bigger questions about what happens next at ECI are still open. Future court filings and rulings will determine the course of the victim’s lawsuit and any broader response by the state to long-running oversight concerns at the facility.