BEAVER, W.Va. — Chad Lester, 35, a former correctional officer from Odd, West Virginia, was convicted today on charges of conspiracy to engage in witness tampering, witness tampering, and making false statements related to the death of inmate Q.B., the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia announced.
Lester conspired with other officers to conceal the unlawful use of force against Q.B. While serving as a lieutenant at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, Lester and fellow officers used excessive force on Q.B. after he attempted to leave his assigned pod.
The officers moved Q.B. to a blind spot in the jail without surveillance cameras, where he was restrained, handcuffed, and posed no threat. Despite this, they continued to subject him to unnecessary force during transport, after which Q.B. became limp and unable to walk.
Lester further obstructed justice by instructing officers to falsify incident reports and omit key details about the assault. He also retaliated against officers cooperating with investigators, threatening violence and assigning them undesirable duties. Lester warned that he would assault anyone who disclosed the truth.
“Mr. Lester was the ringleader of the effort to cover up this horrific beating and keep the truth from the light of justice,” said U.S. Attorney Will Thompson. “He obviously failed at that.”
Lester’s sentencing is scheduled for April 16, 2025. He faces up to 45 years in prison for his role in the cover-up.
