PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Christopher Knight, 48, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a former city correctional officer, was sentenced today to 42 months in prison and one year of supervised release by United States District Judge Paul S. Diamond, for violating the civil rights of multiple inmates and trying to conceal his actions.
Knight was charged by indictment in May 2025 and pleaded guilty this March to five counts of depriving individuals of their civil rights under color of law and two counts of falsifying records.
As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, while working as a sergeant at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility (“CFCF”), Knight pepper-sprayed five subdued victims in a matter of months.
On January 8, 2023, Knight blasted his first victim with pepper spray while the victim was lying face down on the ground with his hands behind his back. Knight then continued to spray the victim, striking him during the handcuffing process and after he was handcuffed.
Two days later, Knight pepper-sprayed another handcuffed victim while the victim was being escorted down a hallway by another guard. Later that day, Knight struck his third victim with spray while the victim was returning to his cell, and Knight continued to pepper-spray this victim after he was handcuffed.
On March 20, 2023, Knight attacked his fourth victim, blasting the victim with spray while the victim was writing on a piece of paper and not posing a threat. Knight continued to spray this victim while he was lying on the ground in pain. Then, on March 24, 2023, Knight attacked his fifth victim, striking the victim with spray, even though he was lying face down on the ground.
Knight falsified multiple use-of-force reports by knowingly omitting key details of his attacks when describing his own actions.
“Correctional officers have significant authority over the inmates in their charge and it’s their duty to wield that power responsibly,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “If they fail to meet this standard, and violate prisoners’ civil rights, as Christopher Knight did, they will be prosecuted and held accountable.”
“Today’s sentencing reinforces a fundamental principle: No one is above the law, particularly those who have sworn an oath to uphold it,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Working alongside our partners, the FBI will continue to investigate potential abuses of power and civil rights violations in our community. Simply put, we will not tolerate abuses of authority and remain committed to holding those who violate the public’s trust accountable.”
This case was investigated by the FBI, with significant assistance from the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Priya De Souza and Michael Miller.