A former Fulton County Jail employee convicted in connection with the death of an inmate who authorities said was "eaten alive by bedbugs" will not spend a single day behind bars, according to court records.
Background
Lashawn Thompson died at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta in 2022 after being found slumped over with his head on a toilet inside a filthy, garbage-filled cell in the facility's mental health unit. The 35-year-old had been arrested three months earlier for allegedly spitting at a Georgia Tech police officer. Thompson was homeless and suffered from schizophrenia.
Images released after his death showed his face, mouth and torso covered with insects. The medical examiner concluded that Thompson was "neglected to death" amid an "enormous presence of body lice." His family described his final days as being consumed by bedbugs.
The Fulton County Jail holds approximately 2,000 inmates awaiting trial and other court hearings. A 2024 investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice found that conditions at the facility violated constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment and resulted in multiple deaths, including homicides, suicides and neglect-related fatalities.
"Detention in the Fulton County Jail has amounted to a death sentence for dozens of people who have been murdered or who died as a result of the atrocious conditions inside the facility," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said in connection with the DOJ report. "It's not just adults but also children who are subjected to conditions and treatment that violate the Constitution."
The Conviction
Stephanie Cooper, who worked as a staffer at the jail, was convicted Monday on charges of depriving essential services, cruelty to inmates and two counts of violation of oath of office. Prosecutors said her actions directly contributed to Thompson's death.
Under Georgia's First Offender Act, Cooper accepted a negotiated guilty plea that allowed her to avoid incarceration entirely. She was sentenced to 10 years of probation, records show. The First Offender Act permits certain first-time offenders to have their convictions potentially set aside upon completing their sentences.
"The unconstitutional and unlawful conditions at the Fulton County Jail have persisted for far too long," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a November 2024 press release announcing federal findings. "We are committed to working with Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff's Office to remedy them."
Key Takeaways
- Lashawn Thompson, who was homeless and had schizophrenia, died at Fulton County Jail in 2022 after being found dead in a filthy cell infested with insects.
- The medical examiner ruled his death a case of neglect, and Thompson's family said he was "eaten alive by bedbugs."
- Former jail staffer Stephanie Cooper was convicted of depriving essential services, cruelty to inmates and two counts of violation of oath of office.
- Despite the conviction, Cooper received 10 years of probation with no jail time under Georgia's First Offender Act.
- A DOJ investigation found unconstitutional conditions at the Atlanta jail contributed to multiple inmate deaths from violence, neglect and suicide since 2022.
What's Next
Federal authorities continue monitoring conditions at Fulton County Jail following the civil rights investigation that documented systemic failures. The Justice Department has said it is working with county officials to implement reforms. Cooper's probation status means she will remain under supervision but will not face incarceration unless she violates its terms.
"Poor supervision, poor classification practices, and inattention to the maintenance of the jail are major contributors to the unacceptable violence," the DOJ report stated.