A Suffolk County correction officer has been arrested for allegedly forcing an inmate in the Riverside jail to perform oral sex, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced today.
Jason Middleton, 35, of Central Islip, is charged with committing a Criminal Act in the Third Degree, a Class E felony, and Official Misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor, Tierney said.
On a date between April 26 and Sept. 29, while working as a correction officer tasked with guarding inmates, Middleton escorted an inmate into a utility walkway between jail cells that Middleton knew to be a blind spot in security camera coverage, according to r a press release from the district attorney’s office. Once inside the walkway, Middleton allegedly closed the door and ordered the inmate to perform oral sex upon him, and the inmate complied, the D.A. said.
Prior to the sexual assault, Middleton had previously threatened the inmate that if the inmate ever disobeyed him, he would plant contraband in the inmate’s cell that would likely result in additional criminal charges filed against the inmate, according to the press release.
“This defendant is alleged to have violated his oath and preyed upon an individual whom he was sworn to protect,” Tierney said. “My office will not tolerate any abuse of that trust.”
He thanked the sheriff’s office for its assistance in the investigation leading to Middleton’s arrest.
Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. said he is “shocked and disgusted by the acts of this correction officer and this is something we have absolutely no tolerance for. Make no mistake, this is no reflection of the men and women of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office who work hard day after day and take their oath of duty seriously.”
Middleton was arrested today by members of the District Attorney’s Office Public Corruption Squad, according to the release. He is expected to be arraigned tomorrow in Southampton Town Justice Court. He is expected to be placed on supervised release, as the offenses he’s charged with are not bail eligible under current New York State law, Tierney said.
Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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