LONDON, Ky. (WMDJ) — A former lieutenant at a federal prison in Martin County has been sentenced, marking the conclusion of an investigation into inmate assaults at the facility.

Michael Childers, 47, of Harold, was sentenced to 17 months in prison for falsifying records. He previously worked at U.S. Penitentiary Big Sandy in Inez.

According to court documents, Childers was in the lieutenant’s office on April 13, 2021, along with four other employees when an inmate requested protective custody. Instead, the inmate was assaulted by staff.

Afterward, Childers filed an incident report falsely claiming the inmate had attacked him. He admitted he wrote the report to interfere with the investigation into the assault.

Childers is the final defendant to be sentenced in connection to the case.

Lt. Terry Melvin was sentenced to 48 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy against rights and violating an individual’s rights. Lt. Kevin Pearce received 66 months for writing false reports tied to inmate assaults.

Case management coordinator Samuel Patrick and captain’s secretary Clinton Pauley were sentenced to 36 and 40 months, respectively, for their roles in the assaults.

A sixth employee, Lt. Ryan Elliott, pleaded guilty in a separate case involving an inmate assault and falsified report. He was sentenced in March 2024 to 12 months and one day.

Childers will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, followed by one year of supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General.