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Failed Extortion Scheme Led to Washington Prisoner’s Suicide Attempt, Lawsuit Says
Loaded on Sept. 15, 2010
by David Reutter
published in Prison Legal News
September, 2010, page 22
by David M. Reutter
Filed under:
Guard Misconduct,
Threats by Staff,
Retaliatory Segregation,
False Charges (Disciplinary Hearings),
Crime/Demographics,
Crime,
Conspiracy.
Location:
Washington.
According to a suit filed on behalf of a Washington state prisoner who attempted to commit suicide, a guard at the McNeil Island Corrections Center retaliated against prisoners who failed to pay extortion fees.
Leon G. Toney was left in a coma and permanent vegetative state …
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More from this issue:
- Thou Shalt Not: Sexual Misconduct by Prison and Jail Chaplains, by David Reutter
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Clergy Who Advocate for Prisoners Barred from Prisons and Jails
- Federal Court Finds Nation of Islam Publication Not Racially Inflammatory, by David Reutter
- $35,000 Settlement in Indiana Jail Failure to Protect and Medical Care Suit, by David Reutter
- Boulder Weekly Investigation Ends the Practice of Shackling Colorado Prisoners in Labor, by Pamela White
- $10 Million Settlement for Former Colorado Prisoner Cleared by DNA, by David Reutter
- Prison Nursery Programs Promote Bonding, Reduce Recidivism, by Gary Hunter
- Texas Judge Sharon “Killer” Keller Receives Sanctions
- Court Rebuffs BOP for Third Time in PLN Records Suit, by Brandon Sample
- Failed Extortion Scheme Led to Washington Prisoner’s Suicide Attempt, Lawsuit Says, by David Reutter
- Deplorable Conditions at Los Angeles ICE Facility Result in Settlement, by Brandon Sample
- $2 Million in Settlements for Wrongful Arrest, Conviction in Ohio
- Technology, Budget Cuts Make Sex Offender Monitoring More Difficult, by Matthew Clarke
- Five Sentenced in Oregon Prison Food Bribery Scandal, by Mark Wilson
- Wisconsin Doctor Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Prisoner Patients
- Congress Passes Law to Reduce Crack/Powder Cocaine Sentencing Disparity, by Anthony Papa
- Former Prisoner Accepts $179,000 for Wrongful Conviction Under New Florida Law, by David Reutter
- Ohio Cuts Prison Industry Jobs, by Matthew Clarke
- Alabama’s Indigent Defense System “Perfect Storm” for Ineffective Assistance, by David Reutter
- $130,000 Settlement in Tennessee Jail Prisoner’s Beating, Rape
- Pay-to-Stay Jails Unsuccessful in Ohio, by David Reutter
- U.S. Supreme Court Holds Restitution Deadlines Not Jurisdictional
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Subsidizes Jail Building in Texas
- Democratic Chairman’s Rhetoric Supports Restoration of Voting Rights, but Actions Speak Louder than Words, by David Reutter
- $850,000 Award in Delaware Prisoner’s Suicide; State Declines to Renew CMS Contract
- U.S. Supreme Court Holds Government May Offset Attorney Fees to Collect Litigant’s Debt
- Pennsylvania Legislator / GEO Board Member Faces Criminal Charges, by Matthew Clarke
- Innocence Project Report on Compensation and Reentry Services for Exonerated Prisoners, by Matthew Clarke
- Former Oregon Prison Guard, Accused of Contraband Smuggling and Sexual Misconduct, Files Suit Alleging Racism, by Mark Wilson
- Suit Filed for Oregon Jail Pneumonia Death
- 14 Years of Litigation Fails to Remedy Deficient Jail Medical Care; Herrera Saga Continues in Washington State
- Registered Sex Offender Remained on City Payroll While Incarcerated, by Michael Brodheim
- Oregon Politician Visits Prison, Proposes Porn Ban, by Mark Wilson
- Arizona Attempts Prison System Sell-Off, by Brandon Sample
- $1 Million Award in New York State Prisoner’s Death Caused by Medical Malpractice
- Another Way for CCA to Influence Congress, by Matthew Clarke
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, by Michelle Alexander (N.Y., The New Press, 2010). 290 pages., by Mumia Abu-Jamal
- California: Last Two of Five Guards Charged in Prisoner’s Death Get Prison Time
- U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Federal Good Time Challenge, by Brandon Sample
- Justice Thomas’ Wife Creates “Nonpartisan” Political Organization, by David Reutter
- New Jersey Prison Guards Fake Electrocution, by Brandon Sample
- $2.9 Million Settlement in Suit against GEO over Suspicionless Strip Searches, by Matthew Clarke
- Mississippi Stops Segregating HIV-positive Prisoners
- GEO Group Settles $47.5 Million Texas Prisoner Wrongful Death Suit
- New York City Jail Prisoner Awarded $1.3 Million in Deliberate Indifference to Assault Claim
- News in Brief:
More from David Reutter:
- Eight Circuit Reverses Denial of Partial Qualified Immunity in Detainee’s Pepper Ball Claim, Remands Excessive Force Claims, Sept. 1, 2026
- Nevada Prisoners, Families Call Out Predatory Tablet Program, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit: Error in Granting Judgment Prior to Adjudging Spoliation Motion, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Affirms Qualified Immunity in Strip Searches Resulting from Anonymous Tips, Sept. 1, 2026
- Tenth Circuit: Colorado Governor Unentitled to Eleventh Amendment Immunity on Claim Related to DOC Religious Policies, Aug. 1, 2026
- Michigan Appeals Court: Witnesses Cannot be Forced to Wear Jail Clothes at Trial, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Affirms Denial of State-Law Qualified Immunity in Scabies Case, Aug. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Revives Disabled Prisoner’s Claim for Denial of Out-of-Cell Exercise Time, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Announces State-Law Exceptions to Appeal Deadlines Preserve “Pending” Status Under AEDPA, Holding Belated-Appeal Procedures Toll Federal Habeas Limitations Period, April 1, 2026
- Florida Supreme Court Announces Rule 3.170(f)’s Good-Cause Plea-Withdrawal Standard Does Not Apply at Post-Appeal Resentencing, April 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- L.A. County Begins Making Nearly $5 Billion in Payouts to Survivors of Sex Abuse in Juvenile Detention, Sept. 1, 2026. Sexual Assault, Staff-Prisoner Assault, Prisoner-Prisoner Assault, Guard Misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Settlements, Juvenile Offenses/Offenders.
- Wave of Staff Arrests Exposes Persistent Misconduct at South Carolina Jail, Sept. 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Guard Misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Obstruction of Justice.
- Four Massachusetts Guards Face Charges for Assault on Prisoners During Brawl, Sept. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings.
- Last of 11 Guards Sentenced in Death of New York Prisoner, Sept. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), False Statements/Perjury, Obstruction of Justice.
- Warden Out, Nineteen Guards Administratively Charged in Maryland Prisoner’s Death, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Prison/Jail Murders, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Failure to Protect (Staff).
- At Least Three Guards Charged for Assaulting Two Massachusetts Prisoners, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Assaults on Staff, Wrongful Use of Force.
- Ombudsman Report Finds Use of Force Misapplied in Contraband Search, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Failure to Treat, Body Cavity Searches, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas.
- Report Shows Pattern of Sexual Assaults in Santa Clara County Jail, Aug. 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Guard Misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Corrections Audits, Failure to Protect (General).
- Seventh Circuit Upholds Summary Judgment Against Former Illinois Prison Guards Challenging Termination for Violating Use of Force Policy, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Summary Judgment, Employee Litigation, Vagueness/Overbreadth.
- $6.35 Million Paid for Ohio Jail Detainee’s Spinal Cord Injury Caused by Guard, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Malpractice, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Settlements, Wrongful Use of Force.

