Allegheny guard charged with inmate sexual assault

PITTSBURGH (AP) — An Allegheny County Jail guard has been jailed on charges that he sexually assaulted a female inmate twice in the same day last month.

County police say 39-year-old Charles Walker, of Penn Hills, insists that the inmate initiated the sexual contact. He remained jailed Friday on institutional sexual assault and other charges and it was not clear if he has an attorney.

Police say Walker forced the inmate to fondle him when she was alone in a gymnasium. Later that evening, police say Walker followed her into a nurse’s station, fondled her, then forced her to fondle him and perform a sex act.

Warden Ramon Rustin says this is the first such allegation since 2004, when 13 male guards were indicted — and most convicted — of similar charges.