By C1 Staff
DENVER, Colo. — A female officer at the SCI-Sterling has been charged with multiple counts of unlawful sexual contact after inmates reported being groped during pat downs.
The Denver Westword reports that Veronica Garrett, 49, is facing ten counts of sexual conduct in a correctional institution and five counts of unlawful sexual contact after an internal investigation.
She has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial in February.
The inmate who instigated the investigation, Matthew Moss, said it took months to persuade authorities to take his complaints seriously.
He decided to take action after comparing notes with a cellmate about the inappropriate touching.
Moss says he was sexually assaulted four years ago by other prisoners and still struggles with anxiety and flashbacks.
“I don’t like to be touched and I’m very self-conscious about it. When she basically stroked my stuff during a pat search, what might have been a pleasure for most was an extreme flashback and fear trigger for me,” he said.
Garrett has been removed from Sterling, and Moss likewise was transferred to another prison.
The DOC declined to comment on the case, but did acknowledge that the charges involve alleged unlawful contact with eight inmates.