Both defendants pleaded guilty in late 2006 to willfully violating the civil rights of the victims. According to the Associated Press, James Buitt, then 42, and Michael Mathis, then 47, both of Bogue Chitto, filed a complaint Sept. 16, 2004, alleging abuse by MBN agents on Aug. 29, 2004, at a parking lot near Jack & Jill’s bar in Jackson because of their sexual orientation.

The AP reports that Buitt says he was sent to the University of Mississippi Medical Center with a broken arm and nose, and Mathis said his hand was broken.

The AP also reports that Buitt and Mathis say they were pulled from their truck and called derogatory names, which they said suggest the abuse was a hate crime.

According to the Department of Justice release, the defendants followed the victim to the hospital where they confronted him, and tried to get him to agree that he would not file a complaint against them if they would not charge him with driving under the influence of alcohol.

The victim ordered the agents to leave, and accordingly, Reynolds and Forman filed a DUI charge against him. Forman later testified falsely against the victim in Hinds County Justice Court in relation to the DUI charge. "In our country, all Americans are treated equally under the law, and are entitled to the full protection of our civil rights laws," said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "The federal government will continue to vigorously prosecute law enforcement officers for using excessive force against our citizens."

Until next time!