Correctional instructors face charges in Montana

DEER LODGE, Mont. – The Powell County attorney’s office on Friday filed charges against two former drill instructors at a state-run correctional training center, accusing them of mistreating inmates.

Roy C. Miller, of Missoula, and Cory Frankovich, of Anaconda, are accused of forcing trainees at the Treasure State Correctional Training Center to strip naked in front of other trainees.

In addition, Miller is accused of assaulting one trainee by slapping him across the face and lifting another trainee off the floor by his arms while they were handcuffed behind his back.

The complaints say the forced nudity was intended to “intimidate and threaten” the trainees and violated their civil rights.

“These individuals had an obligation to treat the offenders in their custody properly and within the established training regimen of the facility, and failed to do so,” Powell County Attorney Lewis K. Smith said.

The five counts against Miller and one against Frankovich are felonies.

“We constantly talk about the need to hold offenders accountable for their actions and the same holds true for those who work in the corrections field,” said Corrections Director Mike Ferriter.

The two men were suspended with pay Oct. 16. The Department of Corrections announced in November that it was investigating accusations of inmate mistreatment by two staff members. Neither man was working for the department by the end of November.

Agency spokesman Bob Anez said the agency conducted an internal investigation and “took appropriate disciplinary action.” He declined to discuss the drill instructors’ departure further.

Neither Miller nor Frankovich could be reached for comment.

The Treasure State Correctional Training Center is a minimum-security facility that is often referred to as the boot camp.