Ex-California prison officer accused of sexual misconduct

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A previous correctional officer at the biggest women’s prison in California has been accused of partaking in sexual misconduct in opposition to at least 22 inmates, condition prison officers claimed Wednesday.

The California Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation said it has shared the benefits of an inside investigation into Gregory Rodriguez, a former officer at the Central California Women’s Facility, with the Madera County District Attorney’s Workplace. Expenses have not however been filed versus Rodriguez, mentioned Dana Simas, a spokeswoman for the corrections office.

Misconduct at the hands of jail officials “shatters the have faith in of the general public,” Jeff Macomber, the correction’s department’s secretary, said in a information launch.

“We are continuing this investigation to make certain we are rooting out any employee who does not obey the law and to look for out other victims,” Macomber said.

The investigation began in July immediately after officials learned feasible sexual misconduct by Rodriguez against inmates at the Central California Women’s Facility, the office said. The jail is in Chowchilla, a California metropolis about 120 miles (190 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco.

The corrections section mentioned Rodriguez retired in August right after he was approached about the investigation.

It truly is the hottest allegation of abuse by prison officers at services in California. An Associated Push investigation discovered that a superior-position federal Bureau of Prisons formal, who formerly worked at a women’s prison in the San Francisco Bay Spot, was repeatedly promoted following allegations that he assaulted inmates. A further investigation discovered a sample of sexual abuse by correctional officers at the women’s facility.

The state corrections department’s information release does not specify the style of carry out that Rodriguez allegedly engaged in. But the state’s allegations towards Rodriguez occur after lawyer Robert Chalfant filed two federal civil legal rights lawsuits in early December alleging Rodriguez raped two inmates, who are identified in the fits as Jane Doe and Jane Roe.

Tale proceeds

Federal court data did not list an lawyer for Rodriguez, and attempts by The Involved Push to achieve him by way of cellphone quantities identified in community information ended up unsuccessful. The lawsuits have been initial reported by The Sacramento Bee.

The district attorney’s place of work did not instantly respond to an electronic mail trying to find remark. But Madera County District Legal professional Sally Moreno instructed the Sacramento Bee that her office been given the success of the state’s internal investigation past 7 days. She reported her office environment is nevertheless examining the info.

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Sophie Austin is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for The us Statehouse Information Initiative. Report for The united states is a nonprofit countrywide services plan that locations journalists in community newsrooms to report on undercovered difficulties. Comply with Austin on Twitter: @sophieadanna