Former Prison Guard Pleads Guilty

(Bonne Terre, MO) A former Missouri prison guard at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre is pleading guilty to federal charges. 37 year old Carl Hart, of Farmington, pled guilty Tuesday to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and two counts of possession of child pornography after he admitted to assaulting an inmate in October of 2021. Hart also admitted to having possession of child pornography after a separate investigation by the Missouri Highway Patrol's Digital Forensic Unit found child pornography in his Dropbox account and on one of his phones. The civil rights charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. Each child pornography charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Hart is scheduled to be sentenced on August 24. He also faces child pornography charges in St. Francois County Circuit Court. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Missouri Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug is prosecuting the case.