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Oklahoma jail inmates charged with rape over search for missing ring

A detention officer was fired for failing to intervene during the incident

Lost ring

Staff at the Oklahoma County Jail found the lost ring in a hallway. Inmates are allowed to keep rings that are stuck, said the jail administrator.

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By Nolan Clay
The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma County jail inmate has been accused of forcing six female inmates to submit to body-cavity searches for her missing ring.

Raven Ashley Foy also is accused of assaulting two inmates who refused.

Foy was charged Friday with six felony counts of rape by instrumentation, one felony count of conspiracy and two misdemeanor counts of assault and battery.

Charged with her were Shalaye Monyette Hunter, Erica Diane Martinez and Steasha Shanae Threats.

Foy became angry about 2 p.m. June 3 after realizing her ring was missing, an investigator told a judge in a court affidavit.

The six inmates were made to “strip down naked” then roughly searched with gloves, the investigator wrote.

“The victims reported that they did not willingly go into the bathroom, but did so out of fear for their safety because of threats of violence,” the investigator wrote. “Foy and Hunter and their ‘group’ are known for jumping people and beating them up.

“Video shows the victims exiting the cell, putting their clothing back on and/or adjusting their clothing.”

Foy started the search, then Hunter took over, according to the affidavit.

Threats made demands for the return of the ring and “walked through the pod waving her arms around, directing people to go to cell 11,” according to the affidavit. Martinez gave a black latex glove to Foy for the search.

Surveillance video show all four assaulting an inmate in the middle of the dayroom after she refused to go into cell 11 to be checked, the investigator wrote.

A detention officer was fired because of the incident, the jail administrator, Greg Williams, confirmed.

“We had an officer that went into that pod and should have noticed the line and should have noticed that something was peculiar and went in and checked that out and really maybe could have prevented some of that happening,” Williams said.

“We just thought she was derelict in her duties. She should have checked out that scene.”

The fired officer was identified as Leemontye Hennesy. She was terminated June 16. She could not be reached for comment.

“We’re going to continue to expect high-quality services,” the jail administrator said. “We’re going to hold employees accountable. When they don’t take appropriate action, there will be consequences.”

He said the ring was found by jail staff.

“The person that had it threw it out in the hall. Staff picked it up,” he said.

Inmates are allowed to keep rings that are stuck.

“If it’s just ... kind of a harmless little ring, then instead of cutting it off and ... taking a chance on hurting them ... we will let them keep it,” Williams said.

The criminal charge comes one year and a day after a trust took over operation of the jail amid promises that conditions there would improve.

Overcrowding has eased. But the trust has faced many of the same problems that sheriffs have dealt with since the 13-story facility opened in 1991 west of downtown Oklahoma City.

Criticism of the trust has followed every highly publicized incident, particularly after a detention officer was taken hostage March 27.

Foy, 25, of Oklahoma City, was jailed in March after being accused of stealing a car during a domestic dispute.

Hunter, 24, of Oklahoma City, was jailed in 2019 after being accused of involvement in a shooting. A jury in April found her guilty of assault and battery with a deadly weapon.

Threats, 28, of Del City, was jailed on multiple charges including robbery.

Martinez, 34, of Oklahoma City, was awaiting transport to prison after pleading guilty to drug offenses and other crimes.

Because they remain in custody, they could not be reached for comment. During the investigation, Foy denied searching any inmates, according to the affidavit.

(c)2021 The Oklahoman

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