An inmate being held in minimum security at the Central Florida Reception Center in east Orange County suffered a severe beating on March 2. Now, two corrections officers at the State facility are facing criminal charges under an information filed by the office of the Ninth Circuit State Attorney Monique Worrell.
Inmate RP, of Volusia County, was taken to the emergency room and suffered permanent disfigurement, according to the results of the investigation conducted by the Office of Inspector General.
One of the corrections officers who was supposed to maintain order and safety behind bars was Samsara Clophat.
Instead, she and fellow corrections officer RS are facing charges of aggravated battery” causing great bodily harm, “tampering with physical evidence,” and “use of force.”
The Florida Department of Corrections investigation alleges C assisted S in the brutal beating.
Investigators say S “battered the victim” by “striking him in the head and face” with his “radio.” They allege C “forced the door closed when the victim pleaded for his life.” The reason for the beating? Officers thought P “possibly had contraband.”
C faced a Judge inside the Orange County Jail during her first appearance on Thursday.
She was granted bond, ordered to stay away from the victim, and remains on administrative leave from the Department of Corrections, pending the outcome of the criminal case and an internal review by the FDC.
With security cameras inside the prison and witness testimony from other corrections officers, this may seem like an easy prosecution.
But WESH 2 News has investigated other attacks by corrections officers, and they don’t always result in cases being brought to trial.
In July 2019, inmate OM was severely beaten in the yard at Lake Correctional Institution in Clermont — all captured on video by another inmate with a contraband cellphone.
We asked M in June 2023, (Fox) “Did you think you were going to survive that?” (Miller) “No, sir. I thought, I thought I was going to die that day! Honestly. I thought I was going to die.”
The state fired four corrections officers, but in October 2022, prosecutors in the office of the Circuit Five State Attorney dropped the case, saying they wouldn’t be able to convince a jury which officer caused various injuries to M.
In this new case, WESH 2 News went to the Orlando home of S, but no one answered, and authorities believe he’s on the run.
A warrant has been drawn for his arrest, according to an FDC spokesperson, who provided no other comment on the case.
Late Thursday, FDC provided WESH 2 News with a statement, reading:
“Every FDC staff member is held to the highest standards of accountability and professionalism. FDC has zero tolerance for misconduct of any kind and any willful breach of our values or participation in illegal activity by FDC staff will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal and arrest.
“RS and SC were placed on other temporary duties, which limits contact with inmates, on March 3 and 4, 2025. S was dismissed on September 18, 2025, and dismissal for C is currently being processed.”
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Source: wesh
