Two Supervisors Charged With Federal Crimes In Connection With Beating Of 16-Year-Old Resident At Bronx Juvenile Detention Center

 

Daquan Seymour and Rashawn Walker, Two Supervisors at the Horizon Juvenile Center in the Bronx, New York, Allegedly Assaulted a 16-Year-Old Resident and Attempted to Conceal Their Crimes by Preparing False Reports

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Jocelyn E. Strauber, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced today criminal charges against DAQUAN SEYMOUR and RASHAWN WALKER, two supervisors at the Horizon Juvenile Center (“Horizon”), a secure detention center for juveniles located in the Bronx, New York.  The charges relate to the April 25, 2022, beating of a 16-year-old resident at Horizon (the “Minor Victim”) and attempt to cover-up the beating.  SEYMOUR and WALKER were charged with federal civil rights offenses, including conspiring to deprive the Minor Victim of his constitutional rights and depriving the Minor Victim of his constitutional rights under color of law, as well as filing false reports. SEYMOUR and WALKER were arrested this morning and will be presented in Manhattan federal court later today.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today’s charges allege a violent beating and a brazen cover-up by two supervisors at a juvenile detention facility in the Bronx that left a teenage resident seriously injured.  Instead of safeguarding the youth that they were entrusted with protecting, Seymour and Walker violently dragged, punched, and stomped on the minor and then took steps to conceal the beating.  My Office is committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all New Yorkers, including minors residing at youth detention facilities, and will ensure that those who abuse their authority are held accountable.”

DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said: “Defendants Seymour and Walker, ACS supervisors, had a duty to protect the youth residing in the Horizon Juvenile Center in the Bronx.  Instead, they taunted and violently beat a 16-year-old resident, resulting in bodily injuries requiring medical care, and attempted to hide their disturbing misconduct by filing false reports, as alleged in the Indictment.  Juvenile residents in custody should never be victimized by those entrusted with their safety.  I thank the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their partnership in this investigation and in our efforts to protect the rights of juveniles in detention centers.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

On or about April 25, 2022, SEYMOUR and WALKER were employed as Associate Youth Development Specialists at the Horizon Juvenile Center (“Horizon”), a secure detention center for juveniles located in the Bronx, New York, that was operated by the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (“ACS”).  Associate Youth Development Specialists at Horizon are responsible for, among other things, supervising other staff members and ensuring the safety of all juvenile residents. 

At the time of the beating, the Minor Victim was a 16-year-old pre-trial juvenile resident at Horizon.  Following a confrontation between several staff members and juvenile residents at Horizon, including the Minor Victim, SEYMOUR and WALKER violently dragged the Minor Victim by his forearms across the floor of a residential hall and into a private room (the “Room”).  Once inside the Room, SEYMOUR and WALKER beat the Minor Victim, striking him repeatedly and forcefully as the Minor Victim lay on the floor.  SEYMOUR and WALKER took steps to restrain the Minor Victim, including by pinning down the Minor Victim’s hands.  WALKER also stomped on the Minor Victim’s stomach and groin area.  Both SEYMOUR and WALKER taunted and directed profanities at the Minor Victim during the beating.  As a result of the beating, the Minor Victim suffered bodily injuries, including a deep laceration to his upper lip area, which required the Minor Victim to be transported to a nearby hospital for medical care. 

Following the beating of the Minor Victim, SEYMOUR and WALKER attempted to cover up their participation in the beating.  In particular, both SEYMOUR and WALKER prepared Horizon incident reports that described the confrontation between Horizon residents and staff members that immediately preceded the assault but failed to disclose that they dragged or physically assaulted the Minor Victim.

SEYMOUR, 33, of the Bronx, New York, and WALKER, 33, of Queens, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to deprive civil rights, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and one count of falsification of records, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. 

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the DOI for their outstanding work on this matter.  Mr. Williams also thanked the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their significant assistance. 

The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie Bagliebter and Mitzi S. Steiner are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.