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Former St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Officer Randy Hays has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to one felony count of deprivation of civil rights under the color of law. After serving his four-year sentence, Hays will serve another two years on probation.
The incident that led Hays' sentence took place at a protest on September 17, 2017. While serving a dispersal order, Hays confronted Luther Hall, an undercover officer acting as a protester. Hall did not resist arrest, but Hays struck him with his baton, shoved him and kicked him as other officers joined in.
"Wasn't just us," Hays texted a fellow officer following the incident.
"I don't like the beating the hell outta a cop, but the department put him in that spot, he could've announced himself at any time. And he wasn't complying. The camera thing is just ignorant, nothing we all haven't done and if it was a protester it wouldn't be a problem at all."
Hall did not speak during Hays' sentencing hearing, but U.S. Attorney Carrie Costantin read a statement on his behalf.
"On September 17, 2017, my career ended, and a long journey of pain, stress, heartbreak, betrayal, and mistrust began. I also learned that my 22 years of dedicated service meant nothing to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the St. Louis Police Officers Association except to falsify documents and reports, release false information to the media and diligently work to get out ahead of this," Costantin said.
Thus far, three officers have been convicted of beating the undercover police officer. Hays was sentenced to four years in prison while his girlfriend and former colleague, Bailey Colletta, is facing two years in prison for lying to the FBI and a grand jury about the attack. Adding on, former officer Dustin Boone is set to be sentenced in September for violating Hall's civil rights. Meanwhile, officers Steven Korte and Christopher Myers have not been convicted for their roles in Hall's assault.
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