A former correctional officer at a federal ladies’s jail in California faces further fees attached to allegations from inmates who say they have been subjected to his rampant sexual abuse whilst they have been incarcerated, beginning way back to 2016.
Darrell Wayne Smith, who labored on the Federal Correctional Establishment in Dublin, was once arrested on Might 11, 2023, in Florida on a 12-count indictment. On the time, he was once accused of sexually abusing 3 ladies of their jail cells and within the jail’s laundry room between 2019 and 2021, prosecutors stated.
The U.S. Division of Justice stated in a press unencumber Friday {that a} federal grand jury issued a superseding indictment that now fees Smith with 15 counts of sexual abuse, together with civil rights violations towards 5 feminine sufferers in his custody and regulate on the jail.
“As alleged, Officer Darrell Smith engaged in appalling prison acts when he sexually abused the ones in his care and custody,” Deputy Lawyer Common Lisa Monaco stated in a remark. “This superseding indictment is the newest fabricated from the Division’s ongoing paintings to hunt justice for sufferers of sexual attack at FCI Dublin. We stay steadfast in our dedication to root out sexual attack throughout the BOP and cling to account those that so egregiously violate their responsibility.”
FORMER CALIFORNIA PRISON OFFICER CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ABUSING 3 FEMALE INMATES
The Federal Correctional Establishment is proven in Dublin, Calif.
The preliminary indictment towards 55-year-old Smith, who now lives in Florida, charged him with 12 counts that allegedly passed off between Might 2019 and Might 2021. Smith engaged in separate sexual behavior with each and every of the 3 feminine inmate sufferers, the DOJ stated.
The superseding indictment issued final week identifies two further sufferers and 3 further fees, bringing the collection of fees to fifteen – two for each and every of the sufferers, plus one civil rights violation coming up from annoyed sexual abuse Smith is claimed to have engaged in towards some of the sufferers.
The DOJ stated Smith’s alleged sexual behavior started as early as August 2016.
FEDERAL PRISON WORKER IN CA PLEADS GUILTY TO SEXUALLY ABUSING INMATES
Darrell Wayne Smith labored on the Federal Correctional Establishment in Dublin, Calif. (Anda Chu/MediaNews Workforce/The Mercury Information by the use of Getty Photographs)
“Federal jail guards should deal with prisoners humanely,” U.S. Lawyer Ismail Ramsey for the Northern District of California stated. “Victimizing inmates sexually and denying them fundamental civil rights should finish.”
Smith is now charged with six counts of sexual abuse of a ward, seven counts of abusive sexual touch, one rely of annoyed sexual abuse, and one rely of deprivation of rights below colour of regulation.
His arraignment has now not but been set for the superseding indictment, even though he’s recently set to start out trial on March 17, 2025, within the Northern District of California.
If convicted, Smith faces a most penalty of lifestyles in jail for each and every rely of annoyed sexual abuse and deprivation of rights below colour of regulation.
US SENATORS DEMAND ANSWERS ON CLOSURE PLAN FOR CALIFORNIA WOMEN’S PRISON WHERE INMATES WERE SEXUALLY ABUSED
Smith may face lifestyles in jail on each and every rely of annoyed sexual attack. (iStock)
He additionally faces a statutory most penalty of 15 years in jail for each and every rely of sexual abuse of a ward and a most penalty of 2 years in jail for each and every rely of abusive sexual touch.
Smith is a minimum of the 6th worker on the Dublin jail charged with abusing inmates. An Related Press investigation final 12 months published a tradition of abuse and cover-up that had persevered for years on the jail, about 20 miles east of Oakland. That reporting resulted in greater scrutiny from Congress and pledges from the Federal Bureau of Prisons that it will repair issues and alter the tradition on the jail.
The jail’s former warden, Ray Garcia, was once convicted in December 2022 of molesting inmates and forcing them to pose bare of their cells. He was once sentenced to serve six years in jail.
For the reason that AP’s investigation, the Justice Division has moved extra aggressively in fresh months to prosecute federal jail workers who’re accused of sexually abusing inmates. Deputy Lawyer Common Monaco and Bureau of Prisons Director Colette Peters visited the Dublin jail in March 2023 and met with advocates running to strengthen stipulations there.
James Theodore Highhouse, a former jail chaplain at Dublin who pleaded accountable to abusing an inmate in his chapel place of work and mendacity to government, was once sentenced in August to seven years in jail. He’s interesting the punishment, arguing it exceeded federal tips.
Enrique Chavez, a meals carrier foreman, pleaded accountable and was once sentenced to twenty months in jail. Ross Klinger, a recycling technician, has pleaded accountable however has now not been sentenced. John Russell Bellhouse, a jail protection administrator, is scheduled to face trial quickly.
The Related Press contributed to this record.
