A former correction officer has been indicted for allegedly having intercourse with an inmate, based on the Suffolk DA’s workplace.
Boston man William Cooper, 37, has been charged with one rely of rape of an individual in custody.
Cooper — who was a correction officer on the Suffolk County South Bay Home of Correction — is accused of getting intercourse with an inmate in a caseworker workplace close to the prisoner’s cell.
Earlier than the alleged incident on July 7, Cooper allegedly taped trash luggage to a window to dam the view into the workplace from the hallway.
Suffolk sheriff’s investigators acquired a grievance from a 3rd get together the day after the incident and launched an investigation.
The inmate initially denied having any bodily contact with Cooper throughout their 10 minutes collectively within the workplace, however then described the sexual act after being moved out of the power and “no longer fearing retribution,” the DA’s workplace mentioned.
Cooper had labored at South Bay for 2 months. He was interviewed and denied being within the workplace with the prisoner. Nonetheless, this was debunked by surveillance video, based on the DA’s workplace.
Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden praised the “diligent and coordinated” work by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Division and Boston Police as “instrumental” in resulting in the indictment and arrest of Cooper.
Massachusetts legislation states that an individual underneath the custody of a legislation enforcement officer is incapable of consenting to sexual activity.
“The sheriff’s office moved quickly on the information they received about this incident and, with effective help from Boston police, build a solid set of facts,” Hayden mentioned. “Detainees are in custody for specific reasons, but they are certainly not there to be victimized by the persons guarding them.”
The decide in Suffolk Superior Court docket on Friday ordered Cooper held on $5,000 bail.
Cooper is due again in court docket on Oct. 17 for a pre-trial convention.
