Delaware Prisoners Sue DOC Alleging Sexual Assaults by Prison Doctor | Prison Legal News

2.6.16

Delaware Prisoners Sue DOC Alleging Sexual Assaults by Prison Doctor | Prison Legal News - The lawsuit states that prison officials ignored repeated complaints about McDonald’s misconduct and defended him against such allegations, retaliating against prisoners who complained. According to the suit, “Inmates complaining about the sexual abuse were often harassed, ridiculed or abused.” Stephen Hampton, the attorney representing the prisoners, said all of them had serious, ongoing medical issues. One had hepatitis C, which was not discovered until after Dr. McDonald left the prison. Prisoner Theodore Barrett alleged that he was called “snitch of the month” over the prison intercom after he accused McDonald of misconduct. The suit further claims that a prison psychiatrist was pressured to “be a team player” and ignore prisoners’ complaints. The psychiatrist reported this to the DOC commissioner. Delaware’s prisons have been the stage for numerous complaints of staff misconduct in recent years. For example, former guard Christopher Peck pleaded guilty to having sex with multiple prisoners, and was sentenced to three years in prison in June 2014. [See: PLN, July 2014, p.56]. The previous year another guard, James Apgar, was suspended with pay after being accused of putting Ajax or Comet into bread given to several prisoners, sickening them. The prisoners filed suit and settled the case in August 2015. See: Rushing v. Apgar, U.S.D.C. (D. Del.), Case No. 1:13-cv-01103-GMS.