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| Female charged in prison sex flap |
| By Times Leader |
| Published: 07/07/2004 |
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The former director of community programs for the Lackawanna County (Pa.) Prison was arrested Tuesday on charges she engaged in sexual contact with an inmate. Corinne Marie Mazzuca, 49, was arraigned before Scranton District Justice James Kennedy on charges of institutional sexual assault and obstruction of justice, according to a press release by state Attorney General Jerry Pappert's office. Mazzuca, of Jessup, was suspended from her position last year. Her arrest is part of an ongoing grand jury investigation into alleged improprieties at the prison. According to the release: The grand jury found that from May 19, 2002, through Feb. 3, 2003, Mazzuca, then community programs director, "engaged in indecent contact and sexual intercourse with inmate Michael Bonita." The two allegedly first met when Bonita worked in the officers dining room at the prison. Hundreds of letters Mazzuca wrote to Bonita while he was incarcerated in a state facility were reviewed by the grand jury. The letters contained "explicit descriptions" of the relationship, including details of intercourse and oral sex. The grand jury also reviewed recorded phone calls that Bonita made to Mazzuca while he was in the state prison. It could not be determined Tuesday on what charges Bonita had been jailed. Mazzuca also coached Bonita to lie to the grand jury, the press release said. She could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening. Institutional sexual assault is a third-degree felony and carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine. The obstruction of justice charge, a second-degree misdemeanor, carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine. Mazzuca was released Tuesday on her own recognizance. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 31. Under state law, a correctional employee cannot have sexual contact with an inmate even if it is consensual. Robert Fumanti, a member of the Luzerne County Correctional Facility Prison Board, said the prison in Wilkes-Barre has a code of ethics for all employees as well as various policy manuals that "govern a wide range of activities." To Fumanti's knowledge, no community programs director position exists at the local facility. Joe Morris, deputy warden of support, typically handles any prison involvement with community providers, Fumanti said. Neither Morris, nor Warden Gene Fischi could be reached Tuesday night for comment. |
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