Guards fired over alleged mistreatment

They are suspected of harassing inmates at Chillicothe Correctional Institute.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- The state has fired three prison guards accused of harassing two inmates and handcuffing them together.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction would not provide details about the alleged mistreatment, saying only that it was not sexual or physical.
Gary Watkins Jr., 29, and Chad Rawlings, 30, of Chillicothe, and Garrick Kinney, 31, of Columbus, were fired Wednesday for misconduct, state prisons spokeswoman Andrea Dean said.
A report by the State Highway Patrol said the guards are suspected of harassing the inmates April 16 at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution, a medium-security state prison.
Under review
The Chillicothe law director, Toni Eddy, said her office will review the case to decide whether to file misdemeanor charges. No felony charges will be filed, said Ross County Prosecutor Scott Nusbaum.
The guards' union says the punishment is too severe and plans to contest the firings, Ohio Civil Service Employees Association spokesman Peter Wray said.
A telephone message seeking comment was left Friday for Rawlings. Phone listings for Watkins and Kinney could not be found.
The inmates were James Dean, 37, sentenced in Franklin County for complicity to aggravated robbery and complicity to kidnapping, and Russell Kramer, 46, sentenced in Cuyahoga County for felonious assault.