Justice Department Indicts Former Crittenden County Jailer

Crittenden County`s former chief jailer is under a federal indictment that alleges he kicked an inmate in the head and intimidated two grand jury witnesses. Robert Bretherick of West Memphis was arrested today and pleaded innocent in federal court. He is charged with violating the civil rights of an inmate and tampering with a witness. The indictment says that in September 2001, Bretherick, then the jail administrator for Crittenden County, kicked inmate Stanley Beavers Junior in the head, injuring the inmate and violating his right to avoid cruel and unusual punishment. The indictment also said that he threatened to "take care" of anyone who testified against him before a grand jury and intimidated a woman in an effort to influence or delay her testimony. About the same date, the indictment says, Bretherick also threatened to shoot anyone who testified against him and tried to influence another witness` potential testimony. Posted by Mike Hellgren