By Nathan Clark
mlive.com
WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. — A former Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility corrections officer accused of engaging in sexual acts with multiple prisoners while working at the facility has pleaded guilty.
Joshua Lee, 22, of Wyandotte, pleaded guilty Thursday, April 23, to one count of Second-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct involving a state prisoner, according to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.
He was originally charged with four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a state prisoner. The additional counts will be dismissed as part of his plea.
“No one is above the law, and everyone deserves safety from sexual abuse,” said Attorney General Dana Nessel, whose office was prosecuting the case. “My office is committed to prosecuting those who weaponize their authority to exploit the very people they are assigned to monitor and protect. Through the combined efforts of the Michigan Department of Corrections, the Michigan State Police, and prosecutors in my department, we have ensured that Mr. Lee will not only be held accountable but can no longer abuse his position.”
Lee is scheduled to be sentenced June 18 before Washtenaw County Trial Judge Arianne Slay.
The charges highlight a gap in Michigan law. While state law criminalizes sexual contact by corrections officers, no statute specifically addresses sexual penetration. Officers can be charged under second-degree criminal sexual conduct for both contact and penetration offenses.
Nessel has advocated for the Michigan Legislature to update the law so first- and third-degree criminal sexual conduct statutes explicitly cover sexual penetration by corrections staff.
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