A federal grand jury indicted two former Augusta State Medical Prison correctional officers for their roles in the death of an inmate who set a fire in his cell, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Thursday.

Robert Roberson and Marcus Phillips were charged with violating the constitutional rights of an inmate by showing deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of harm, according to federal prosecutors. Their actions led to the inmate’s death, prosecutors said.

Roberson is also charged with falsifying a logbook to cover up his misconduct.

According to the indictment, Roberson and Phillips became aware of a smoldering fire in an inmate’s cell on Oct. 28, 2020. But instead of extinguishing the fire, trying to evacuate the inmate, or reporting the emergency over the radio, they allegedly l

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