Lake County corrections officer, Michael Raymond Riley Jr., was arrested Monday in connection with the death of an inmate

Riley Jr., 27, was charged with second-degree murder after allegedly beating inmate to death a ‘Disabled’ Florida inmate five months ago

Christopher Howell, 51, died in a Florida hospital in June 2018 – he had been ‘brutally beaten’ by an officer inside the Lake Correctional Institution, Florida the previous day

According to witness accounts, Howell – who was listed as mentally impaired – was bashed while two other correctional officers watched on

The inmate who was handcuffed while he was hit, suffered a broken neck during the incident

Howell was jailed after attempting to shoplift four $15 phone chargers at a Florida Target in 2018, and threatening a a security guard with a folding knife

He had served six months of the four-year sentence from that conviction when Riley Jr. beat him to death

A corrections officer in Lake County, Michael Raymond Riley Jr., has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of an inmate at the Lake Correctional Institution in June.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Michael Raymond Riley Jr., 27, was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on Monday.
FDLE officials said the investigation began June 18, 2020, at the request of the Florida Department of Corrections.
The investigation shows the victim, Christopher Howell, died as a result of actions taken by Riley in his capacity as a correctional officer.
Christopher Howell was jailed for stealing four $15 phone chargers from a local Target store. Howell who is disabled pulled a knife on a Target security guard after the shoplifting, and ended up in jail.
Howell, 51, was brutally beaten by a 27-year-old corrections officer inside a correctional facility on June, 2020.

Witness accounts stated that Howell was beaten by a corrections officer, later identified as Michael Riley, while he was still handcuffed and as two other officers watched but did not intervene.
Howell was pronounced dead one day after the ‘brutal beating’ which occurred inside the Lake Correctional Institution, 25 miles west of Orlando. Announcing the charges Tuesday, Mark Inch, Secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections said the Florida Department of Corrections has zero tolerance for the malicious application of force.
We must work to ensure the safety of both the community and those entrusted to our custody. If an officer acts outside of their authorities and the standards of the Department, they will be held accountable,” Inch said.
Riley has been released from jail on $50,000 bond.
FDLE spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger would not answer questions about Howell’s cause of death, but said “the victim died as a result of actions taken by Riley in his capacity of a correctional officer.”
The indictment was filed under seal, Plessinger said.
Howell was described as disabled on his arrest report.
He pled guilty to robbery with a deadly weapon and theft and was sentenced to four years with credit for time served.
He had only been in FDC’s custody for six months when Riley beat him to death.
Riley posted $50,000 bail Tuesday morning, according to Polk County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman