UPDATE | Additional charges filed against former jail guards in inmate’s death

Four former guards at the Boyd County Detention Center are facing additional charges in the November 2018 death of inmate Michael Moore.

Several counts of criminal abuse charges were announced Friday morning in a hearing.

Prosecutors say Brad Roberts faces 16 counts of criminal abuse, Zackary Messer was charged with 15 counts, Colton Griffith was given seven counts, and Jeremy Mattox faces five counts.

Each count carries a 5 to 10 year prison sentence.

Boyd County Commonwealth Attorney Rhonda Copley says the charges are for each time the guards caused physical injury by allegedly intentionally causing torture, cruel confinement or cruel punishment to a person who is physically or mentally helpless.

The alleged abuse was captured on security footage inside the jail.

Investigators say Moore was found unresponsive at the jail hours after he was brought in and the alleged abuse occurred. One month later, five guards were indicted for manslaughter in Moore’s death.

The fifth guard that was charged took a plea in May to wanton endangerment.

The other four also face manslaughter charges that carries a 10-20 year prison sentence.

A correctional officer who faces charges in the abuse of an inmate who died at the Boyd County Detention Center has accepted a plea deal, the Commonwealth Attorney's office said Friday.

Alicia Beller originally had been charged with manslaughter, but that charge was reduced to first-degree wanton endangerment.

Beller is one of five former corrections officers accused in the death of Michael Moore, who was found dead at the jail on Nov. 29, 2018. She accepted a plea deal with prosecutors.

Commonwealth Attorney Rhonda Copley says the charge was reduced because Beller she never actually touched Moore. She says, however, that Beller didn’t report or stop the abuse.

As part of the agreement, Beller faces no jail time. However, she will be on a five-year diversion program and can not get in any legal trouble during that time. Also, as part of the agreement, Beller can’t work in corrections, she must give a sworn statement about what happened and she must testify in future trials against other defendants.

A judge ruled Tuesday in a bond decision for five former Boyd County Detention Center guards accused of abusing an inmate who died later at the facility.

That judge ruled bond would remain at $100,000 for suspects Jeremy Mattox, Brad Roberts, Colton Griffith and Zachary Messer. Suspect Alicia Beller's bond was reduced from $100,000 to $50,000.

As of Tuesday evening, all of the suspects except Griffith were still in custody.

All five suspects face first-degree manslaughter charges in the death of Michael Moore, who was found dead at the jail on Nov. 29.

According to information from the court's bond decision, Moore died from blunt force trauma to his side which fractured three ribs and caused internal bleeding, resulting in death. It says the blow allegedly happened in a restroom adjacent to the jail's booking room where the victim was thrown against a combined toilet and sink.

Beller was located some distance away at that time in a control room, according to documentation. She testified that she heard a cracking sound, allegedly from Moore's body when he hit the toilet.

During the incident, Moore also was placed upside down in a restraint chair, court documents show, and the suspects are seen laughing. Griffith was seen flexing his arms as he left the restroom as Maddox, Messer and Roberts continue to handle the victim.

The documentation also says the restroom incident happened when Moore clearly wasn't having a "sudden violent outburst."

"Far from it. The Defendant was barely coherent and was twitching uncontrollably. As the video demonstrated, hours prior to the alleged fatal event the victim was held face first into a wall by Messer then suddenly slammed into the wall face first then falling, being picked up and pushed in like manner back into the wall."

If the five suspects are found guilty of manslaughter, they face 10 to 20 years behind bars.

Video obtained by WSAZ shows five former guards at the Boyd County Detention Center allegedly abusing an inmate, who died at the facility just hours later.

The guards are:

The five appeared in court Monday for a bond reduction hearing after being booked on $100,000 cash-only bonds on Dec. 21. They were indicted then by a grand jury for manslaughter in connection with the death of Michael Moore, who was found dead at the jail on Nov. 29.

WSAZ was the only television station in the courtroom when prosecutors played video from inside the jail, spanning several hours, that shows the five playing a role in what investigators call "abusing" Moore.

During the investigation, detectives say they learned that Moore was highly intoxicated when he was booked at the jail, which led to his confinement in a restraint chair, and rendered him mentally and physically helpless.

Detectives say the investigation further revealed that, while incarcerated, the five jail deputies intentionally abused Moore, or knowingly permitted his abuse, and that the mistreatment caused Moore's death.

The first clip shows Moore in an orange jump suit moments after he was brought in to the Boyd County Detention Center. An investigator who testified described the video as it was played when what appears to be Messer holding Moore against a wall face first. When Moore tried to loosen from the hold, the video shows Messer hitting Moore's head against the wall before placing Moore in a restraint chair where investigators say he was tied to off and on for several hours, including upside down at one point by Mattox.

Moore was upside down in the chair for roughly three minutes. Investigators testified Mattox told them that it was from a tactic he had learned at another facility to calm inmates down. It is unclear if that tactic is actually used at the jail Mattox mentioned.

Trooper Jeffery Kelley with Kentucky State Police said in court that Roberts, who was the supervisor in charge on the night the alleged abuse happened, told him that that is against policy at the Boyd County Detention Center. Kelley said Roberts told him he was not in the room when Mattox tipped Moore's chair over. However the video played shows Roberts watching Mattox tip the chair back.

Kelley also testified Roberts said when he saw Moore upside down, he "immediately tipped him (Moore) upright." However Kelley added that before tipping Moore back Roberts flicked Moore on the head. The video shows Roberts standing over Moore 23 seconds before picking him up.

Later in the hearing, the prosecution played video showing the men indicted picking Moore up from the chair. Moore is seen walking in one direction when a guard, identified as Messer, grabs Moore, who then falls over the restraint chair.

He is picked up by Messer and Griffith, who investigators say threw Moore into a nearby bathroom where he hit against a metal toilet.

It is here where investigators say Beller, who was in an observation room that displays all security footage, heard a crack. It is believed that crack was Moore's ribs or back.

Kelley testified that the medical examiner, "verbally told me that the cause of death was blunt force trauma" to the left side of his rib cage. Kelley said the medical examiner told him that Moore died from internal bleeding from damage by three broken ribs.

Investigators say at no point did Moore get any kind of medical treatment from the jail before his death. However he says Messer told him he tried to get Moore treatment after the bathroom incident, but Roberts told him to stand down.

Roberts allegedly told detectives the opposite, saying he told the other men they were being too rough on Moore. The men deny that.

An attorney for Griffith asked Kelley if Moore falling from the top bunk in a jail cell, which was not shown Monday, could have contributed to Moore's death. Kelley said no, adding video from that fall shows Moore falling on his hands and knees. He does hit his head, but records show the injuries that caused his death are not connected to any injuries sustained in that fall.

The judge says a ruling on lowering the guards' bond will come Tuesday.

If they are found guilty of manslaughter, the five face 10 to 20 years behind bars.

Five former guards from the Boyd County Detention Center pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of manslaughter for alleged roles in the death of an inmate in November.

Michael Moore was found dead Nov. 29 after detectives say he was intentionally abused by the guards and that mistreatment lead to his death

The guards are identified as:

The five are in custody in different facilities, and are being held on $100,000 cash-only bonds.

Attorneys for four of the five asked for bond reduction, which will be heard at a later date.

Alicia Leora Beller has turned herself in, according to Kentucky State Police. She has been booked at the Carter County Detention Center.

Five former guards at the Boyd County Detention Center have been indicted by a grand jury on first-degree manslaughter charges in connection with an inmate’s death late last month.

Investigators say all five were on duty the night Michael Moore died Nov. 29.

They are identified as:

During the the investigation, detectives say they learned that Moore was highly intoxicated when he was booked at the jail, which led to his confinement in a restraint-chair, and rendered him mentally and physically helpless.

Detectives say the investigation further revealed that, while incarcerated, the five jail deputies intentionally abused Moore, or knowingly permitted his abuse, and that the mistreatment caused Moore’s death.

Bond for each suspect is $100,000 cash.

“The Boyd County Detention Center is cooperating with Kentucky State Police and their investigation,” Interim Jailer Bill Hensley said.

Four of the five former guards were taken into custody and taken to various facilities. Investigators have not been able to locate Beller, anyone with information of her whereabouts, should contact KSP Post 14 at ‪(606) 928-6421‬.

Keep checking WSAZ Mobile and WSAZ.com for the latest information.

Criminal activity has not been ruled out in an inmate's death at the Boyd County Detention Center, Kentucky State Police say.

Michael L. Moore, 40, was found dead Thursday morning at the jail. He had been incarcerated there for public intoxication.

Troopers say an autopsy performed at the Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort could not rule out criminal activity. The case remains under investigation by KSP Detective Jeff Kelley, who was assisted by other KSP personnel and the Boyd County Coroner’s Office.

The identity of an inmate who died at the Boyd County Detention Center Thursday morning has been released.

Kentucky State Police is investigating the death of Michael Moore, 40, who was behind bars for public intoxication.

There are no obvious signs of foul play, according to troopers. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday.

Investigators are responding to a death of an inmate at the Boyd County Detention Center.

The Boyd County coroner responded to the jail Thursday morning.

A 40-year-old man died. The autopsy is scheduled for Friday morning.

Kentucky State Police is handling the investigation.

No name or other details are available at this time.

Keep checking the WSAZ App and WSAZ.com for the latest information.