Enrique Chavez appeared Tuesday in federal courtroom to facial area a federal indictment charging him with two counts of abusive sexual speak to from a jail inmate at the Federal Correctional Institute Dublin (FCI Dublin).
“Above all else, the Bureau of Prisons is charged with offering risk-free and humane therapy of all who are in their custody,” claimed Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “As this scenario tends to make crystal clear, the Department of Justice is dedicated to holding BOP staff accountable, together with by means of criminal fees, when they fail to uphold their accountability. Workers misconduct, at any amount, will not be tolerated, and our attempts to root it out are considerably from around.”
“Inmates should really never ever experience sexual abuse at the palms of the Bureau of Prisons staff members, still five BOP staff have a short while ago been charged with these abuse of inmates at FCI Dublin,” mentioned Inspector Basic Michael E. Horowitz of the Division of Justice Office environment of the Inspector Standard. “The protection, protection and integrity of federal prisons are of the utmost value, and the Division of Justice Office of the Inspector Typical will go on to aggressively go after allegations of abuse at FCI Dublin and throughout the BOP.”
“Correctional officers have a dependable obligation to safeguard all those beneath their authority,” claimed U.S. Legal professional Stephanie M. Hinds for the Northern District of California. “Sexually abusing inmates is a betrayal of that accountability and undermines a just penal method. My office environment is dedicated to pursuing charges against any person – such as federal staff – who abuse the public’s believe in in violation of federal legislation.”
“Holding a situation of electricity comes with wonderful responsibility. Chavez made a determination to abuse his authority and victimize inmates he was liable for overseeing,” said Exclusive Agent in Cost Craig D. Good of the FBI. “Let this send a clear concept that the FBI will investigate and keep accountable any and each individual person who commits an act like this, no matter of your title or authority.”
According to the indictment unsealed right now, Chavez, 49, of Manteca, California, is employed as a correctional officer at FCI Dublin. FCI Dublin is a correctional institution that houses female prisoners and is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). On the dates of the billed crimes, Chavez was assigned to the situation of Cook Supervisor/Foreman. As a correctional officer, he supervised and experienced disciplinary authority above the female inmates incarcerated at FCI Dublin. Chavez was experienced in BOP guidelines and procedures, which integrated recommendations that sexual, economic and social interactions with inmates are prohibited.
The indictment fees two counts of abusive sexual call by Chavez versus a prison inmate happening on separate situations in Oct 2020. In every depend, the indictment alleges that Chavez engaged in intentional sexual make contact with with “Victim 1.” Victim 1 is discovered as a feminine inmate detained at FCI Dublin and thus underneath the custodial, supervisory and disciplinary authority of Chavez.
Chavez was arrested in Arizona on Sunday, March 20. His first courtroom overall look happened Tuesday, March 22, in U.S. District Court docket in Arizona, in which he is staying held pending transfer to the U.S. District Court docket in Oakland to experience these rates.
Chavez is charged with abusive sexual get in touch with with a prisoner in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2244(a)(4). Each individual of the two counts carries a highest statutory sentence of two decades imprisonment, a 3-12 months expression of supervised launch, and a $250,000 great. Nonetheless, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by a court docket only soon after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Tips and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations. As in any criminal scenario, the defendant is presumed harmless unless of course and till established guilty in a courtroom of law.
Deputy Attorney General Monaco for the U.S. Office of Justice, U.S. Legal professional Hinds for the Northern District of California, Section of Justice Inspector Normal Horowitz and FBI Unique Agent in Cost Good produced the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Lawyers Mohit Gourisaria, Molly K. Priedeman and Andrew Paulson are prosecuting the circumstance with the support of Kay Konopaske and Leeya Kekona. The prosecution is the outcome of an investigation by the Section of Justice Office environment of the Inspector General and the FBI.
