Former Pender corrections officer convicted of committing perjury

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A former sergeant at Pender Correctional Institution pled guilty Thursday to committing perjury before a federal grand jury in a civil rights investigation.

According to a press release, on November 17th, 2021, officers took an inmate to a separate building with no surveillance cameras. The inmate was handcuffed and struck with a baton multiple times.

Richard Wargo, 37, was working the night shift when the incident occurred and was tasked with preparing the incident report regarding the use of force. In his report, Wargo did not say that he was there during or was involved in the use of force.

When asked about the incident, Wargo described being the investigating officer but said he was not involved and was not even present for the use of force. He appeared before a federal grand jury on August 22, 2023, and while under oath, gave the same account.

However, grand jury testimony from other officers and witnesses established that Wargo was present in the shipping and receiving building during the assault. Two officers testified that Wargo participated in the assault, striking the inmate with a baton, while another officer testified that he saw Wargo standing over the inmate.

Wargo later admitted that he had entered the shipping and receiving building during an ongoing use of force incident. He further admitted that he had drawn his baton and witnessed other officers strike the inmate with batons.

Wargo faces faces up to five years in prison.