14 officers prosecuted after prisoners beaten at NJ ladies’s jail

TRENTON– Fourteen correctional policemans have actually been prosecuted in connection with the early 2021 event at New Jersey’s ladies’s jail in which 2 prisoners were significantly hurt in whippings while being by force gotten rid of from their cells.

The 14 officers, consisting of the then-leader at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Union Township in Hunterdon County, all of whom have actually been suspended, were prosecuted Tuesday.

Criminal charges: ‘Terrorizing prisoners’

The indictment declares the officers prepared, monitored, took part in or stopped working to stop “several forced cell extractions on the Restorative Housing Unit tier with the function of penalizing, frightening or terrifying several prisoners.”

The charges consist of conspiracy, main misbehavior and exacerbated attack, which each bring possible sentences of 5 to ten years in jail and fines of $150,000. The attack charge consists of a required to serve 85% of the sentence prior to parole eligibility.

They were likewise charged with damaging public records, which is punishable by 3 to 5 years in state jail with 2 years parole ineligibility and a fine of $15,000. That charge associates with deceptive or incorrect internal reports planned to hide what occurred.

Prosecutors stated the following offenders were prosecuted

• Sean St. Paul, 56, of Newark, who was the jail’s associate administrator

• Ryan Valentin, 44, of Bloomfield, a significant in the Department of Corrections

• Eddie Molina, 44, of East Brunswick, a lieutenant

• Amir E. Bethea, 37, of Springfield, a sergeant

• Andraia Bridges, 45, of North Plainfield, a sergeant

• Anthony J. Valvano, 40, of Bound Brook, a sergeant

• Brandon Burgos, 22, of Roseland, a, a senior correctional officer

• Luis A. Garcia, 25, of Nutley, a correctional officer

• Courey James, 33, of East Piscataway, a senior correctional officer

• Jose Irizarry, 38, of Paterson

• Desiree Lewis, 33, of Elizabeth, a senior officer

• Gustavo Sarmiento, 29, of Maywood, a senior correctional officer

• Marika Sprow, 33, of West Orange, a senior officer

• Tara Wallace, 37, of Somerset, a senior correctional officer

Sexual and physical abuse at jail

Edna Mahan has actually had a history of problems, consisting of a report by the Justice Department on its civil liberties and sexual and physical abuse issues, and is now due to be closed. The state has actually not yet figured out where it may construct a replacement or otherwise house the prisoners.

Tensions at Edna Mahan were running high up onJan 11, 2021, after numerous events in which prisoners sprayed unidentified liquids on officers through their cell doors. Cells coming from prisoners presumed in those “splashing” events were targeted in the late-night prisoner extraction.

Such extractions are expected to be a last resort if prisoners decline to be handcuffed and leave their cells or if they posture a risk. Prosecutors state the officers had their minds comprised and by force eliminated prisoners who were complying or weren’t offered an opportunity to comply.

Investigators state one prisoner who wasn’t withstanding was punched nearly 30 times by one officer, while others limited her. Another who had actually complied to be handcuffed suffered a damaged skull around her eye.

Michael Symons is the Statehouse bureau chief for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at michael.symons@townsquaremedia.com