Dublin, CA - Enrique Chavez, the Fifth Worker Charged With Sexual Abuse at the All-Women's Federal Correctional Institution, FCI Dublin

Another Prison Worker Facing Sexual Abuse Charges

According to USA Today, a fifth employee has been charged with sexually abusing inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, located at 5701 8th St, Dublin, CA 94568.  

Enrique Chavez is accused of touching an inmate of the all-women's prison. He allegedly touched her breasts, buttocks, and genitals on multiple occasions in October of 2020. T

On April 10, Chavez was indicted and arrested on Sunday, April 13, 2022. Chavez had been off for several months on administrative leave. The 49-year-old cook supervisor makes the fifth employee at the high profile prison to be charged with sexual assault. A previous warden and a chaplain are among the others. So far, two of the former employees arrested have entered guilty pleas.

Continue reading about the ongoing sexual abuse at the prison, here:

Ray Garcia, a former prison warden serving time for sexually abusing female inmates. 

Nakie Nunley, a prison staffer, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing five female inmates. 

James Theodore Highhouse, a corrections worker and chaplain, was charged with sexually abusing an inmate multiple times from 2018 to 2019.

Darrell Wayne Smith faces 15 counts of sexual abuse in addition to a civil rights violation. 

Lawsuits For Victims Sexually Abused in a Prison

Attorney contributor Jason Amala is a sexual assault attorney in California. He has successfully represented sex assault victims and their families in civil court, ensuring that they receive the justice they deserve. Attorney Amala sat down with us to explain the legal options accessible to victims of sexual abuse by a prison worker, including when they can sue.

"Prisons are required by law to ensure the safety of both its inmates as well as their workers. Additionally, they have a moral and legal obligation to ensure that predators are not hired, and that sexual abuse is not tolerated within the facility. Prisons can lessen the likelihood of sexual abuse by employing security measures such as working video surveillance, patrolling personnel, and frequent background checks on all staff members. In fact, they may be held negligent if they fail to maintain sufficient safety measures."

"Victims of sexual abuse by prison workers may have grounds for a civil lawsuit if the prison failed to adopt a safety plan that reduced the risk of the abuse. When sexual assault occurs as a result of the prison's negligence, the prison may be held liable. Furthermore, if authorities were aware of earlier sexual misconduct but did not investigate or report the prison worker, the abuse could have occurred due to their negligence. Sexual abuse victims should seek the advice of an experienced sexual abuse lawyer to assess whether they could file a civil complaint against the prison for financial compensation in circumstances of security negligence."

Sources:

USA Today