Christopher Knight, a former prison guard at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia, pleaded guilty on March 19 to five counts of depriving individuals of their civil rights under color of law and two counts of falsifying records. The plea was entered before United States District Judge Paul S. Diamond, according to an announcement by United States Attorney David Metcalf.
Knight, 47, was charged by indictment in May of last year. According to court filings and Knight’s own admissions, he used pepper spray on five inmates who were already subdued over a period of several months while working as a correctional officer.
The incidents included spraying victims who were lying face down with their hands behind their backs or already handcuffed. On January 8, 2023, Knight sprayed his first victim while the individual was restrained on the ground and continued after handcuffing him. Two days later, he sprayed another handcuffed inmate being escorted by another guard and then sprayed a third victim returning to his cell after handcuffing him. On March 20, 2023, Knight used pepper spray on a fourth victim who was writing on paper and not posing any threat; he continued spraying as the victim lay in pain. Four days later, he sprayed a fifth victim who was also lying face down.
Knight also admitted to falsifying multiple use-of-force reports by omitting key details about these attacks when describing his actions.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 15. Knight faces a maximum possible sentence of up to 90 years in prison.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Philadelphia Department of Prisons and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Priya DeSouza and Michael Miller.
