BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Four former correctional officers at Southern Regional Jail have been indicted for second-degree murder of inmate Quantez Burks.
According to court records, in the September 2025 term, a Raleigh County grand jury returned indictments for four former correctional officers at Southern Regional Jail.
Those charged with second-degree murder and felony conspiracy are as follows:
23-year-old Andrew Fleshman of Shady Spring
41-year-old Mark Holdren of Arnett
30-year-old Cory Snyder of Shady Spring
26-year-old Steven Wimmer of Princeton
Quantez Burks, a 37-year-old pretrial detainee, died on March 1, 2022, less than 24 hours after being booked into Southern Regional Jail on charges of wanton endangerment and obstructing an officer.
Burks was assaulted by multiple correctional officers while handcuffed and restrained in an interview room lacking surveillance cameras.
The officers struck him in the head, kicked him, used pepper spray, and inflicted other injuries.
After the assault, Burks was carried to another pod, where he became unresponsive and was later pronounced dead by emergency personnel.
Eight former correctional officers were implicated in Burks’ death.
They were charged with various offenses, including conspiracy to violate civil rights, excessive use of force, and obstruction of justice.
The officers involved and their sentences are as follows:
(Only the four individuals mentioned above were indicted for second-degree murder as of the September 2025 term in Raleigh County)
- Mark Holdren (20 years): Pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate Burks’ civil rights by using unreasonable force. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
- Johnathan Walters (21 years): Also pleaded guilty to similar charges and was sentenced to 21 years in prison.
- Corey Snyder (19 years, 7 months): Admitted to using excessive force and was sentenced to 19 years and 7 months in prison.
- Jacob Boothe (3 years): Was present during the assault and failed to intervene; he was sentenced to 3 years in prison.
- Ashley Toney (6 years, 6 months): Pleaded guilty to failing to intervene to protect Burks and was sentenced to 6 years and 6 months in prison.
- Steven Nicholas Wimmer (9 years): Pleaded guilty to conspiring to use unreasonable force and was sentenced to 9 years in prison.
- Andrew Fleshman (8 years, 4 months): Pleaded guilty to similar charges.
- Chad Lester (17.5 years): A former lieutenant at the jail, Lester was convicted of obstruction of justice for his role in covering up the assault and was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison.
