By Peter Cameron
The Times-Tribune
SCRANTON, Pa. — Joseph Black, accused of raping several inmates while he was a corrections officer at Lackawanna County Prison, pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor charges Friday morning in Lackawanna County Court.
Judge Michael Barrasse sentenced him to 3¾ years to 8 years in state prison followed by 10 years on a special probation. He is also to have no contact with victims.
As part of the negotiated deal with prosecutors, Mr. Black agreed to plead guilty to two counts of indecent exposure, three counts of official oppression, and two counts of unlawful restraint.
He had been charged with several more serious felonies, including rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and institutional sexual assault. Those charges were dropped.
Authorities accused the Mr. Black, 51, of 102 Robert Drive, Dickson City of raping five female inmates from 2002 to 2011. A grand jury recommended charging him in December 2013. The prison fired him in January 2014.
Female inmates accused Mr. Black of forcing them to perform oral sex on him. In one instance, a woman woke up to find herself handcuffed to her bed and Mr. Black forced her to have sex, according to the criminal complaint. When he finished, she asked him why he degraded her in such a way. He replied, because he could.