A grand jury has indicted two Harris County sergeants who are accused of leaving a mentally ill inmate unattended in his cell for weeks.
The Houston Chronicle reports Ricky D. Pickens-Wilson and John Figaroa were charged Tuesday and face up to 10 years in prison on allegations they left Terry Goodwin unattended in his jail cell. They are also charged with tampering with a governmental record for signing off on paperwork stating that Goodwin was in good condition.
A sheriff's office compliance team says Goodwin was found in his cell with insect-infested food containers, a feces-clogged toilet and ropes from his shredded jail uniform hanging from the ceiling.
The team was checking on the inmate because a whistleblower contacted state authorities last fall.
Both sergeants have posted $5,000 bond. The sheriff's office said in a statement that the both have been relieved of their duties.
