Four Missouri guards at same prison face charges

Four former corrections officers at an eastern Missouri prison are facing criminal charges – three are accused of abusing inmates and one for alleged sexual contact with a convicted killer.

The Daily Journal newspaper in Park Hills, Missouri reported Thursday that all four cases stem from separate investigations at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center, a maximum-security prison in Bonne Terre. All four were charged in June.

Charged with inmate abuse are 36-year-old David Shipley of Farmington, 58-year-old Charles Thomas of Ste. Genevieve, and 39-year-old Jerry Morgan of De Soto.

Meanwhile, 37-year-old Shawna Barton is accused of sexual contact with a man serving time for second-degree murder.

Shipley’s attorney says he is confidence he will be exonerated. Thomas, Morgan and Barton do not have listed attorneys.

This story was originally published July 10, 2014 at 12:22 PM with the headline "Four Missouri guards at same prison face charges."