The legal drama surrounding Young Thug’s YSL trial is far from over. One of his co-defendants, Shannon Stillwell, has taken legal action against Fulton County, Georgia, authorities over the conditions he allegedly endured while detained in the Fulton County Jail. On December 10, 2023, Stillwell filed a class action lawsuit, claiming that conditions within the facility violate his constitutional rights and amount to “cruel and unusual punishment.” The lawsuit, filed in federal court, also includes Nkenegen Hambrick, another prisoner, as a co-plaintiff.
Stillwell, who was sentenced to time served and probation after being convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, filed the suit after his release on December 17, 2023. The class action aims to represent anyone currently or previously detained at the jail, as well as future detainees. It targets Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat and the county’s chief jailer, John Jackson, accusing them of neglecting to address serious issues within the facility.
“Conditions at Fulton County Jail are cruel and unusual, violating prisoners’ constitutional rights,” says the lawsuit filed by Shannon Stillwell and Nkenegen Hambrick.
The suit outlines several troubling allegations about the jail’s conditions. Among the claims is that authorities fail to close off areas of the prison that contain materials easily used to create makeshift weapons. Additionally, it is alleged that broken doors are not repaired, allowing inmates to enter and exit cells without authorization. The suit also highlights accusations of unsanitary conditions, including unclean facilities and insufficient, nutritionally inadequate food for prisoners.
Stillwell was one of only two defendants in Young Thug’s YSL case to go to trial. The other, Yak Gotti, was found not guilty on all counts. Stillwell was acquitted of most charges, including two murder counts, but was convicted of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Despite this, he was sentenced to time served and probation, which meant his release shortly after the trial concluded.
The YSL case, which dates back to May 2022, involves Young Thug and several other individuals charged with a variety of serious offenses, including violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The charges also include murder, armed robbery, and gang-related activities.
Stillwell’s lawsuit underscores the ongoing scrutiny of Georgia’s prison system, particularly the conditions faced by individuals awaiting trial or serving time in county jails. While the case against Young Thug and his co-defendants has captured national attention, the legal action taken by Stillwell sheds light on the systemic issues within the local jail system that continue to affect many inmates.
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