Ex-jail guard charged in sex assaults on inmates

Associated Press

SCRANTON, Pa.

A northeastern Pennsylvania county jail guard suspended from his job more than two years ago has been charged with sexually assaulting five female inmates at the lockup since 2002.

Defense attorney Joe DeAndrea said his client, Joe Black, 49, of Dickerson city, “didn’t do it. It’s pretty simple, he just didn’t do it.”

But on Friday, Black was arraigned on charges including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and institutional sexual assault based on a report returned last month by a Lackawanna County grand jury.

The grand jury found that Black frequently volunteered to oversee female inmates — a job typically done by female guards. The investigation began when a former Lackawanna inmate told investigators she had been sexually assaulted by Black, but only after she had been moved to a federal prison.

Warden Robert McMillan said he’s implemented policies and practices aimed at changing the county jail’s culture since he arrived in 2011, the same year Black was suspended.

“Since I’ve been here, I will say this, we do investigate everything, no matter how big or small,” McMillan said.

Inmates and prisoners didn’t immediately come forward to accuse Black because they feared reprisals, according to the court papers listing 22 counts against the guard. In general, Black is accused of using his powerful position to bribe female inmates to have sex with him and raping some in secluded areas of the prison when they resisted.

Among the charges are seven counts of institutional sexual assault. Under the law, an inmate can’t legally consent to sex with a guard because of the power the guard holds over them.

The warden said a new phone system installed at the county jail includes a special, dedicated line that lets inmates report suspected sexual abuse without fear of being found out. The phone system makes it appear an inmate is calling a friend or family member even when the call is directed to prison security officials.

Black was allowed to remain free on $50,000 unsecured bond after Friday’s arraignment. He faces a preliminary hearing Jan. 27.