UNION TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Three prison guards at New Jersey’s only facility for women prisoners were charged with misconduct stemming from an attack on at least six inmates last month, the state’s attorney general said Thursday.
More charges against other officers at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women could come as the investigation continues, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said during a virtual news conference.
“They were not treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve,” Grewal said. “In fact, they were assaulted physically and violently.”
The charged officers were identified as Luis Garcia, 23, of Nutley; Amir Bethea, 35, of Springfield; and Anthony Valvano, 38, of Bound Brook, according to WABC.
3 N.J. prison officers charged with misconduct after alleged beatings, assault at women’s prison https://t.co/IvV7MEsxPP pic.twitter.com/XehJpq1USX
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Bethea and Valvano, who were supervisors at the prison, are charged with misconduct and tampering with records, WNBC reported. Garcia is charged with those counts, plus aggravated assault, the television station reported.
One woman at the prison told NJ Advance Media she was sexually assaulted by an officer, and one inmate said she suffered a broken eye socket and cheekbone. Another told her mother she was diagnosed with a concussion and had bruises all over her body.
The charges Grewal read Thursday did not include sexual assault, WABC reported.
Officials confirmed that one inmate had an “orbital fracture” and they said women also suffered psychological trauma, according to NJ Advance Media.
The complaint against Garcia alleges that the officer “purposely and knowingly attempted to cause serious bodily injury to a victim by using force beyond what was objectively reasonable and necessary,” WABC reported.
Grewal said Garcia punched the woman 28 times around the face, NJ.com reported.
Garcia’s attorney, Robert Cannan, said his client “adamantly denies these allegations.”
“He will plead not guilty and ultimately looks forward to complete vindication and restoration to his pay status and his career,” Cannan told NJ.com.
A transgender prisoner at the facility was beaten by a group of officers, the inmate’s mother, Trimeka Rollins, told NJ.com.
Ajila Nelson, an inmate, told NJ.com she believed the attack was in retaliation for complaints inmates had made.
Last week, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy named former state comptroller Matt Boxer as an independent investigator into the allegations, WNBC reported.
Cox Media Group
