PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A former prison guard has pleaded guilty to a charge of falsifying records in an attempt to cover up the assault of an inmate.

Michael Childers pleaded guilty to falsifying records on Monday. In his plea agreement, he admitted helping to cover up an assault at U.S. Penitentiary Big Sandy in April of 2021.

At that time, he was working as a lieutenant when an inmate seeking to be placed in protective custody was brought into the office. Childers admitted to tackling the inmate to the ground and assaulting him with four other guards.

Afterwards, Childers wrote up a report falsely claiming that the incident was prompted by the inmate had headbutted him.

Childers now faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced at a later date.