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| Jail Officer acquitted of sex charge |
| By Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |
| Published: 02/21/2005 |
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The first of more than a dozen Allegheny County, Pa., Jail officers to go to trial on charges of having sex with inmates in exchange for favors was found not guilty of sex assault against a prisoner. A jury of eight women and four men deliberated about three hours before it acquitted Donald J. Stupka, 46. A woman who had been incarcerated on prostitution charges said she had sex at the jail with a number of officers in exchange for favors, like cigarettes and other contraband. In 1999, the woman testified, she and Stupka had a late-night sexual encounter in her jail cell. Stupka was charged with institutional sexual assault, a charge levied against persons in positions of authority even if the sexual encounter is consensual. In 1999, it was a misdemeanor. In 2000, the charge was upgraded to a felony. Stupka, during his trial, denied ever having seen the woman before she testified at his preliminary hearing last year. He has been an officer at the jail since 1988. Three other officers who face similar charges have pleaded guilty. Trials are pending for another 10 county corrections officers. The charges stem from a county grand jury investigation into allegations that officers at the jail had for years exchanged contraband for sexual favors with inmates. District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. has said the investigation is continuing. |
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