Former Rockbridge County jail superintendent to serve more than 4 years in federal prison John Higgins was convicted of accepting payment to improve an inmate’s living, denying another inmate medical care Published: Updated: Tags: ROANOKE, Va. – A former Rockbridge County Regional Jail superintendent convicted on several charges earlier this year learned his fate on Tuesday. John Higgins will spend 51 months in prison after being convicted of multiple charges related to federal civil rights violations and corruption. “Higgins violated the public trust placed in him as jail superintendent. He repeatedly interfered with certain sentences handed down by Virginia courts, taking matters into his own hands by allowing the abuse of certain inmates, but treating another inmate favorably to enrich himself,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Dan Bubar. “As the court found today, this conduct was simply egregious and went on for years. Today’s significant sentence ought to serve as a deterrent to any public servant who may be tempted to carry out the administration of justice with anything less than fairness under the law. I thank the FBI, the Virginia State Police, the Rockbridge County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and the prosecution team for their tireless work to bring Higgins to justice.”