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| FBI to monitor jail's sexual misconduct |
| By AP |
| Published: 06/13/2005 |
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The FBI plans to investigate sexual misconduct claims against four King County jail officers for evidence of civil rights violations, a bureau spokesman said. The jail officers - three from Seattle and one from Kent - are accused of misconduct with women inmates in separate incidents. Authorities say the men could face criminal charges. The FBI will monitor the county sheriff's investigation and may wait for the result before taking any action, Special Agent Mark Ferbrache told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in a story published Saturday. The FBI investigation could lead to separate civil rights charges if any officers used their authority to sexually abuse an inmate, particularly force or threats were involved. But such prosecutions are rare, the newspaper reported. Reed Holtgeerts, director of the county's Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, said he would welcome an FBI probe "because we want to get to the bottom of this, completely." Two of the Seattle officers, ages 39 and 45, were arrested May 5. They are accused of sexually abusing a 27-year-old inmate who was jailed awaiting a robbery trial in March. Detectives investigating that woman's claims found evidence of a third Seattle officer engaging in sexual misconduct with woman inmate, more than two years earlier. King County prosecutors say the 33-year-old officer was questioned May 26 and released. A decision on possible criminal charges against the three officers is expected in the next few weeks, prosecutor's spokesman Dan Donohoe said. The fourth case involves a 40-year-old officer at the county's regional jail in Kent. That officer is accused of exposing himself to an inmate, Kent police spokesman Paul Petersen said. Kent prosecutor Tami Perdue said she expects to charge the officer with second-degree custodial sexual assault, a gross misdemeanor, in Kent Municipal Court. All four officers remain on administrative leave, Holtgeerts said. Court documents say the sheriff's investigation has involved questioning officers and inmates, along with one alleged victim wearing a wire while talking to two officers. |
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