Former guard indicted on civil rights charges

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A former Florida State Prison correctional officer has been indicted by a federal grand jury on civil rights charges for allegedly pouring hot water on an inmate in 2005.The three-page indictment by a federal grand jury against 43-year-old Paul Tillis was announced Thursday by the Justice Department.

The indictment only identifies the inmate by his initials, J.W., and said the incident occurred on Aug. 14, 2005. It does not say how seriously he was injured. Department of Corrections spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger said Tillis worked for the prison from 1998 until 2008, when he was fired.

If convicted, Tillis faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. It was not immediately known if Tillis has a lawyer.