Federal Jury Convicts Former Correctional Officer of Civil Rights Violation that Resulted in Inmate’s Death

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Press Release
A federal jury has convicted a former detention deputy at the Garvin County Jail (GCJ) in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, for her role in being deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of pretrial detainee Kayla Turley, resulting in bodily injury to Ms. Turley and her death. Paula Kelley was convicted of one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 242.
“This guilty verdict holds this former correctional officer accountable for her shocking failure to protect a vulnerable inmate in her care,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “By ignoring the victim’s serious medical needs, the defendant betrayed the most basic duties of her position and violated the victim’s civil rights. The Civil Rights Division has no tolerance for such abuses.”
“Correctional officers have a legal and moral obligation to ensure that individuals in their custody receive necessary medical care,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “When that duty is deliberately ignored, resulting in serious harm or death, there must be accountability. This conviction, and the guilty pleas of four other correctional employees and one correctional nurse, affirms the importance of protecting the constitutional rights of those held in our detention facilities.”
“The correctional officers in this case failed to obtain clearly needed medical care for a pretrial detainee, resulting in her death. This failure to act to protect someone in their custody undermines the respect and reputation of all law enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “This conviction, and the five other guilty pleas in this case, are a reminder that the FBI will vigorously investigate violations of civil rights to bring justice for the victims, and their friends and families.”
On June 12, 2026, following a jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Kelley was found guilty of violating 18 U.S.C. § 242.
As established at trial, Kelley was on duty as a GCJ detention deputy when she learned that pretrial detainee Kayla Turley was facing serious medical needs. Despite knowing and observing Ms. Turley’s serious medical needs, Kelley willfully failed to take any reasonable steps to abate those needs. Due to the failure to act by Kelley and other GCJ staff, Ms. Turley suffered bodily injury and ultimately died.
Kelley faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Four other former detention deputies and one former GCJ nurse previously pleaded guilty to violations of 18 U.S.C. § 242 for their roles in being deliberately indifferent to a substantial risk of serious harm to Ms. Turley. Detention Deputy Jennifer Baxter and former GCJ nurse Lynsee Noel each pleaded guilty to violating 18 U.S.C. § 242 based on their failure to take reasonable measures to help Ms. Turley get medical care for her serious medical needs. In addition, defendants Baxter and Noel – along with former Detention Deputies Vincent Matthews and Alesha Ingram – have each pleaded guilty to being deliberately indifferent to Ms. Turley’s safety when they failed to intervene and stop other inmates from assaulting Ms. Turley after the inmates became frustrated with Ms. Turley’s cries for help.
Former Detention Deputy Melissa Melton pleaded guilty to one violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242 for being deliberately indifferent to a substantial risk of serious harm to Ms. Turley due to her serious medical needs, resulting in bodily injury to Ms. Turley.
According to their plea agreements, Baxter, Noel, Matthews, Ingram, and Melton face a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia E. Barry for the Western District of Oklahoma and Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti and Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.