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A corrections officer at the Franklin County Jail in southern Illinois has been accused of raping three female inmates. 58-year-old Chet L. Shaffer of Amalaville was arrested last Thursday and has been charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, three counts of official misconduct, and two counts of custodial sexual misconduct.
Shaffer is accused of varying degrees of sexual misconduct involving three female inmates. The first inmate told prosecutors that Shaffer knowingly engaged in sexual penetration between July 26 and August 2nd. A second inmate alleges that Shaffer raped her while armed with a handgun on August 5. A third says Shaffer raped her on August 12.
According to the authorities, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office was notified of these allegations on August 15 and Shaffer was placed on leave. The Sheriff’s Office also asked the Illinois State Police to investigate the allegations.
Franklin is currently free on $100,000 bond.
Continue reading for more information from sexual assault lawyer Guy D'Andrea.
The case against Shaffer is the second one involving a Franklin County Sheriff’s Office employee accused of sexual assault.
In October of 2017, Sheriff’s deputy Christopher N. Hampton was arrested on charges of criminal sexual assault and custodial sexual misconduct. He stands accused of sexually assaulting a woman who had been arrested in January of 2016.
Hampton was placed on administrative leave following his arrest and he resigned two days later after an Illinois State Police investigation began.
No trial date has been set in Hampton’s case.
Attorney contributor Guy D'Andrea helps victims find justice by filing civil lawsuits against sexual predators and third parties who enable them. Here are a few thoughts from Brian on the legal rights of inmates who have been sexually abused by prison and jail staff members:
It’s no secret that sexual assault is a major problem in our nation’s correctional system. When someone gets incarcerated, they still maintain their basic human rights – including the right to be safe from sexual assault. But sadly, sexual assault remains a major problem in jails and prisons. In many cases, the perpetrators of these crimes are not fellow inmates, but staff members.
If an inmate is sexually assaulted by a jail staff member, that inmate has the right to find justice through the legal system. The criminal justice system may handle the prosecution of the perpetrator, but this is not the only option for justice. In some cases, victims of sexual assault by jail staff members may have the right to file a lawsuit.
If you or a loved one is a victim of sexual assault by a jail employee, it’s important to be aware of your family’s legal rights. You can learn more by speaking with an experienced sexual assault victims attorney.
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