PHILADELPHIA, PA — A former Philadelphia correctional sergeant was sentenced Tuesday to 42 months in federal prison for violating the civil rights of five inmates by pepper-spraying them while they were subdued and falsifying records to conceal details of his conduct.
U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond also sentenced Christopher Knight, 48, of Philadelphia, to one year of supervised release.
Knight pleaded guilty in March to five counts of depriving individuals of their civil rights under color of law and two counts of falsifying records. He was indicted in May 2025.
According to court filings and Knight’s admissions, the offenses occurred while he was a sergeant at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia, where he pepper-sprayed five inmates between January and March 2023.
On Jan. 8, 2023, Knight sprayed an inmate who was lying face down with his hands behind his back, then continued using the spray during and after the handcuffing process, according to federal prosecutors.
Two days later, Knight pepper-sprayed a handcuffed inmate who was being escorted through a hallway by another correctional officer. Later that day, he sprayed another inmate who was returning to his cell and continued after that inmate was handcuffed.
On March 20, 2023, Knight pepper-sprayed a fourth inmate who was writing on a piece of paper and did not pose a threat, according to court filings. He continued spraying the inmate after the person was on the ground in pain.
Four days later, Knight pepper-sprayed a fifth inmate who was lying face down on the ground.
Knight also admitted falsifying multiple use-of-force reports by knowingly omitting key details about his actions.
“Correctional officers have significant authority over the inmates in their charge and it’s their duty to wield that power responsibly,” U.S. Attorney David Metcalf stated. “If they fail to meet this standard, and violate prisoners’ civil rights, as Christopher Knight did, they will be prosecuted and held accountable.”
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Priya De Souza and Michael Miller prosecuted it.
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