FOUR FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CHARGED WITH CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS FOR INMATE ASSAULTS

A federal grand jury returned a seventeen-count indictment charging four former East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office (EBRSO) employees, assigned to the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison (EBRPP), for civil rights violations announced United States Attorney Kurt Wall. The indictment charges two former deputies and two former corporals with crimes relating to the abuse of rights under color of law, conspiracy, making a false report, and witness tampering:

• Aaron Johnson, age 29, of Denham Springs, Louisiana, was charged with three counts of abuse of rights under color of law for assaulting unresisting and handcuffed inmates in isolated areas of the prison not covered by surveillance, including an incident where Johnson allegedly struck a pretrial detainee in the head with a metal folding chair.
• Kenyaki Domino, age 29, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was charged with two counts of abuse of rights under color of law for assaulting unresisting and handcuffed inmates in isolated areas of the prison not covered by surveillance, including an incident where Domino allegedly slammed an inmate's head into a doorframe during an escort.
• Darius Powell, age 24, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Lionel James, age 30, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, were charged with two counts and one count, respectively, for abuse of rights under color of law for their conduct.

All four men were also charged with conspiring to cover up the assaults of EBRPP prisoners as well as falsifying reports about the incidents. Johnson and Powell also face counts of witness tampering.

According to the indictment, the defendants used areas within EBRPP that did not have security cameras, such as the sally port area and interview rooms, to assault inmates and a detainee by attacking them while they were isolated and unresisting. All four attacks resulted in bodily injury, and three involved the use of dangerous weapons. The defendants conspired with one another to cover up the attacks by creating false cover stories that omitted the use of force. The conspiracies also involved text discussions between the defendants regarding EBRSO investigators and the falsification of reports. The indictment also describes a social media post created by Powell that contained pictures and statements about one of the assaults.

While employed at EBRPP, Johnson served as a field training officer responsible for providing deputies with on-the-job training, and Domino and James were responsible for supervising deputies.

In a related case, Christian Morris, age 29 of Zachary, Louisiana, a former corporal with EBRSO, pleaded guilty on June 2, 2026, to one count of abuse of rights under color of law for failing to intervene despite having the means and opportunity to do so while an inmate was being assaulted.

The defendants face up to ten years imprisonment on the abuse of rights and conspiracy counts and up to twenty years imprisonment on the false report and witness tampering offenses.

"An overwhelming majority of law enforcement personnel are extremely professional and proficient in their duties," said U.S. Attorney Wall. "However, when someone in a position of trust has violated that responsibility, it is our job to make certain that they are held accountable. Thanks to East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux and his office for their complete cooperation in this matter and additional thanks to our partners at the FBI for a very thorough investigation."

"The FBI appreciates the cooperation of the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office in this investigation," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. "The FBI works closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office in cases like this, and we take these types of allegations against law enforcement officers very seriously."

U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office. Special Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Johnson and Assistant United States Attorney April Leon lead the prosecutions.

NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.