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Federal jury convicts ex-Oklahoma jail deputy in detainee’s death, civil rights case.Federal jury convicts ex-Oklahoma jail deputy in detainee’s death, civil rights case GARVIN COUNTY, Okla.(KOKH) — A federal jury has convicted a former detention deputy at the Garvin County Jail in Pauls Valley in connection with the death of pretrial detainee.Paula Kelley was convicted for her role in being deliberately indifferent to detainee Kayla Turley’s serious medical needs, resulting in bodily injury to Turley and her death.“Correctional officers have a legal and moral obligation to ensure that individuals in their custody receive necessary medical care,” said U.S.Attorney Robert J.Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma.“When that duty is deliberately ignored, resulting in serious harm or death, there must be accountability.The six convictions in this case affirm the importance of protecting the constitutional rights of those held in our detention facilities.” Kelley was on duty as a detention deputy when she learned Turley was facing serious medical needs.Despite knowing and observing Turley’s condition, Kelley willfully failed to take any reasonable steps to address those needs.Because of the failure to act by Kelley and other jail staff, Turley suffered bodily injury and ultimately died.Kelley faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.“This guilty verdict holds this former correctional officer accountable for her shocking failure to protect a vulnerable inmate in her care,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K.Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.“By ignoring the victim’s serious medical needs, the defendant betrayed the most basic duties of her position and violated the victim’s civil rights.The Civil Rights Division has no tolerance for such abuses.” Four other former detention deputies and one former jail nurse previously pleaded guilty to violations of 18 U.S.C.242 for their roles in being deliberately indifferent to a substantial risk of serious harm to Turley.Detention Deputy Jennifer Baxter and former jail nurse Lynsee Noel each pleaded guilty to violating 18 U.S.C.242 based on their failure to take reasonable measures to help Turley get medical care for her serious medical needs.Baxter and Noel, along with former detention deputies Vincent Matthews and Alesha Ingram, also pleaded guilty to being deliberately indifferent to Turley’s safety when they failed to intervene and stop other inmates from assaulting Turley after the inmates became frustrated with Turley’s cries for help.Former detention deputy Melissa Melton pleaded guilty to one violation of 18 U.S.C.242 for being deliberately indifferent to a substantial risk of serious harm to Turley due to her serious medical needs, resulting in bodily injury to Turley.According to their plea agreements, Baxter, Noel, Matthews, Ingram and Melton each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.“The correctional officers in this case failed to obtain clearly needed medical care for a pretrial detainee, resulting in her death.This failure to act to protect someone in their custody undermines the respect and reputation of all law enforcement,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater.“This conviction, and the five other guilty pleas in this case, are a reminder that the FBI will vigorously investigate violations of civil rights to bring justice for the victims, and their friends and families.”