Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania County Jail Suspends 3 More Guards, 9 Total, in Sex Abuse Probe

Three more guards have been suspended with pay at a northeastern Pennsylvania jail, meaning nine are off the job while state prosecutors and others investigate allegations that inmates were sexually abused.

Lackawanna County Warden Tim Betti says the suspensions are meant to protect the guards from inmates who might retaliate against them because of the allegations and to protect the inmates if the allegations are true.

The district attorney began investigating after a June lawsuit alleged several current and former guards harassed a female inmate. The lawsuit was amended to include three additional inmates. The DA has since referred the investigation to the state attorney general.

The warden says he's conducting an "independent and parallel" investigation of the allegations.

The names of the suspended guards have not been released.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us