|
|
| Former officer found guilty of sexual assault on inmate |
| By Fort Worth Star-Telegram |
| Published: 02/23/2004 |
|
"Do you think you're the first? This happens all the time," a former correctional officer with the Federal Bureau of Prisons told a woman incarcerated in Fort Worth as he raped her. But the victim, hanging on to a glimmer of hope that she might save other women from being brutalized like her, kept her semen-stained pants until the day she was released. Then she told the camp administrator. The 47-year-old woman was vindicated last week, when a federal jury in a Fort Worth courtroom convicted former prison officer Michael Miller of aggravated sexual assault and four related charges. The jury deliberated 1 1/2 hours after a one-day trial before returning the guilty verdicts. Miller, 35, faces a maximum sentence of up to life in prison and a $1.25 million fine. U.S. District Judge John McBryde scheduled sentencing for May 21. The lead prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Schattman, applauded the victim's courage. Rape cases against federal correctional officers are extremely rare, but the successful prosecution of Miller underscores a basic tenet of justice in a democratic society, Schattman said: "An inmate should be able to call upon law enforcement like anybody else." It was the second courtroom victory for the woman in litigation stemming from the same March 2000 sexual assault in a supply room at the prison work camp. On June 2, a civil jury in federal court awarded her $4 million, finding that Miller raped her and violated her civil rights. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think