Federal prosecutors Monday announced that a former Oregon Department of Corrections nurse was charged with sexually assaulting 12 female prisoners at the state’s women’s prison.
Tony Daniel Klein, 37 allegedly attacked the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility inmates from 2016 to 2017.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice , he was charged with 21 counts of depriving victims of constitutional rights not to be subject to cruel or unusual punishment. He could be sentenced to life imprisonment.
Federal court records show that Klein pleaded not guilty Monday in a video arraignment. Although the indictment was filed last Wednesday, it was not sealed Monday.
Klein’s lawyer did not respond to a request late Monday afternoon for comment.
According to reports, the sexual assaults occurred in 2016 and 2017.
Prosecutors said he is facing 21 counts of deprivation and four counts perjury for allegedly giving false answers in a civil case involving alleged misconduct.
Colette S. Peters, Director of Corrections Department, stated that the agency had worked with the FBI and state police. She also said that today’s indictment “shows that women in custody have their voices heard and are taken seriously.”
Peters stated that DOC does not tolerate sexual violence against people in its care. Peters also said that allegations would not be ignored or swept under the carpet, regardless of whether the accused is no longer employed at our Department. In a statement. “These serious allegations can now be dealt with by the federal criminal justice system.”
