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| Officers face discipline after inmate attack |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 11/17/2003 |
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A corrections officer was suspended following the beating of a sex offender at the hands of his fellow inmates, New York prison officials said last Friday. Robert Sigler, 55, the former Middletown school superintendent, was attacked by several inmates Sept. 24 after being transferred to Downstate state prison in Dutchess County. Sigler admitted having oral sex with a 14-year-old male student last year. Sigler was beaten in a holding area for new inmates after corrections officer Joseph McGue allegedly told other inmates who Sigler was and what he was in for, state Department of Correctional Services spokesman James Flateau said. Sex offenders can be considered pariahs in prison. Flateau said McGue's disclosure was a violation of departmental policy that placed his fellow workers and Sigler at risk of injury. McGue was suspended without pay Thursday and faces possible departmental charges that could lead to dismissal, Flateau said. In addition, Flateau said two more officers face reassignment and possible departmental charges. Corrections officer Hector Quiles failed to take action after staff at the reception area told him Sigler was a possible protective custody case. Sgt. Andre Sedlak failed to take action after sheriff's deputies who brought Sigler to the prison told him they were delivering a protective custody inmate, Flateau said. Three inmates involved in the attack were sent to disciplinary housing and will have privileges revoked from five to six years, Flateau said. Their cases have been referred to the district attorney's office. Several bones in Sigler's face were broken and injuries around his eye may require surgery, according to his lawyer. He is now in voluntary protective custody in Elmira state prison. Flateau said this was the first such incident in at least 18 years at Downstate, which takes in about 500 inmates a week. Sigler was sentenced in September to 1 2/3 to 5 years in state prison after pleading guilty to a charge of second-degree sodomy. |
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