Decatur, Illinois - Decatur Correctional Center Food Services Manager Michael S. Williams Charged with 26 Counts of Custodial Sexual Misconduct

IDOC Employee Charged with Sexual Misconduct Involving 7 Inmates

An IDOC employee who worked as a food services manager at the Decatur Correctional Center has been accused of sexual misconduct involving seven inmates. 49-year-old Michael S. Williams was arrested on September 25 and charged with 26 felony counts of custodial sexual misconduct.

According to court documents, this sexual misconduct dates back as far as 2016 and continued through 2019. Seven of these 26 alleged sexual acts involved the same inmate and occurred between December 1, 2016 and May 31, 2017.

On October 8, Williams was arraigned on additional charges – including eight counts of official misconduct/obstruction of a criminal investigation. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Williams began working for the IDOC in February of 1999. He was placed on administrative leave in April of 2019 after this investigation began. The IDOC and Illinois State Police collaborated on this investigation.

Williams is being held at the Macon County Jail with a bond set at $200,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 30th at 1:30 p.m.

Legal Options for Inmates Sexually Assaulted by Prison and Jail Staff Members

Attorney contributor Guy D'Andrea represents victims of sexual abuse in civil lawsuits. Brian has offered to share some of his knowledge on the legal rights of inmates who have been sexually abused by jail and prison staff members:

Employees of correctional facilities have a legal duty to conduct themselves professionally. Sexual contact between these employees and inmates is never okay, and in many states, any type of sexual contact between these parties is illegal. When a prison or jail employee is charged with sexually assaulting inmates, those inmates should be aware of their legal rights.

In some cases, inmates who have been sexually abused by staff members may have grounds for a lawsuit against the correctional facility where the abuse occurred. Some cases of inmate sexual abuse may have been prevented if not for negligence by the facility.

Each prison sexual assault case is unique and the available legal options will depend on circumstances. You can learn more about your legal rights as a survivor of sexual assault in a prison or jail by contacting one of our experienced sexual assault victims lawyers for a free consultation.

Sources:

https://herald-review.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/decatur-correctional-center-worker-charged-with-counts-of-sexual-misconduct/article_e191408e-158c-5afe-bcee-20d98b72b8fd.html

https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2019/9/28/20888308/illinois-corrections-employee-charged-with-sexual-misconduct