Federal Prosecutors say a fourth Georgia corrections officer has pleaded guilty to his role in the beating of an inmate at Macon State Prison.

Officials said Thursday that 26-year-old Kadarius Thomas, a former supervisor at the prison in Oglethorpe, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice. Authorities say Thomas admitted to escorting an inmate to a gymnasium where he was attacked by several other Correctional Emergency Response Team officers.

Prosecutors say the inmate was attacked because he previously assaulted a prison supervisor.

Officials say Thomas knew the inmate was injured and followed a supervisor's order to leave out any reference to unjust use of force in any incident reports.

Thomas, of Americus, faces up to 20 years in prison. A deputy warden and seven corrections officers were indicted in the assault.

Tags: prisoners, Macon State Prison, inmate beating, inmate deaths, corrections officers