- Bridges McRae
Former Memphis Police officer Bridges McRae pled guilty to a civil rights violation today in federal court. McRae was charged with using excessive force against transgender Shelby County Jail inmate Duanna Johnson in February 2008.
McRae faced a maximum of ten years in prison for the civil rights offense, but his plea deal means he’ll only be incarcerated for 24 months. McRae also pled guilty to one count of tax evasion.
At his plea hearing, McRae admitted using unreasonable force against Johnson, causing bodily harm in the form of cuts, bruises, and pain. Surveillance video from the jail shows McRae beating Johnson over the head. Johnson, who was murdered later that year in a seemingly-unrelated incident, told media that McRae called her “he/she” and “faggot.”
McRae was tried in April, but a mistrial was declared when the jury of five men and seven women were unable to reach a verdict.
