A former correctional officer at a federal women’s facility in California is facing new charges related to claims from inmates who allege they endured extensive sexual abuse at his hands while incarcerated, with incidents reportedly starting as early as 2016.
Darrell Wayne Smith, who formerly worked at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, was apprehended on May 11, 2023, in Florida, following a 12-count indictment. He was previously accused of sexually assaulting three female inmates in their cells and in the facility’s laundry area between 2019 and 2021, as per prosecutors.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced in a press release on Friday that a federal grand jury has issued a superseding indictment, which now brings Smith’s total charges to 15 counts of sexual abuse, including violations of civil rights against five female individuals under his custody at the prison.
“As alleged, Officer Darrell Smith committed horrific criminal acts by sexually abusing those entrusted to his care,” stated Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “This superseding indictment reflects the Department’s ongoing efforts to secure justice for victims of sexual assault at FCI Dublin. We are unwavering in our commitment to eradicate sexual abuse within the Bureau of Prisons and ensure that those who grievously breach their responsibilities are held accountable.”
FORMER CALIFORNIA PRISON OFFICER CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT OF 3 FEMALE INMATES
The Federal Correctional Institution is depicted in Dublin, Calif.
The initial indictment against Smith, 55, who resides in Florida, involved 12 counts that were said to have occurred between May 2019 and May 2021. Smith was reported to have engaged in separate sexual conduct with each of the three female inmate victims, according to the DOJ.
The latest indictment filed last week identifies two more victims and three additional charges, increasing the total to 15—two counts for each victim, alongside one civil rights violation linked to the aggravated sexual abuse claims against one of the victims.
According to the DOJ, Smith’s alleged sexual misconduct might have begun as early as August 2016.
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Darrell Wayne Smith was employed at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, Calif. (Anda Chu/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images)
“Federal prison guards must treat inmates with dignity,” stated U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey for the Northern District of California. “Sexually victimizing inmates and denying them their fundamental civil rights must stop.”
Smith now faces six counts of sexual abuse of a ward, seven counts of abusive sexual contact, one count of aggravated sexual abuse, and one count of deprivation of rights under color of law.
An arraignment date for the superseding indictment has yet to be determined; however, Smith is scheduled to go on trial on March 17, 2025, in the Northern District of California.
If found guilty, Smith could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for each count of aggravated sexual abuse and deprivation of rights under color of law.
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Smith faces potential life sentences on each count of aggravated sexual assault. (iStock)
He also faces a statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for each count of sexual abuse of a ward, with a maximum penalty of two years for each count of abusive sexual contact.
Smith marks at least the sixth employee from the Dublin facility charged with inmate abuse. A previous Associated Press investigation uncovered a longstanding culture of abuse and cover-up at the prison, located roughly 20 miles east of Oakland. This investigation prompted heightened scrutiny from Congress and commitments from the Federal Bureau of Prisons to address the issues and revise the prison’s culture.
The prison’s former warden, Ray Garcia, was found guilty in December 2022 of sexually assaulting inmates and compelling them to pose naked in their cells, resulting in a six-year prison sentence.
Following the AP investigation, the Justice Department has ramped up its efforts to prosecute federal prison staff accused of sexually abusing inmates. Deputy Attorney General Monaco and Bureau of Prisons Director Colette Peters visited the Dublin facility in March 2023 to engage with advocates seeking to enhance conditions there.
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James Theodore Highhouse, a former prison chaplain at Dublin, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing an inmate in his chapel office and lying to the authorities. He was sentenced in August to seven years in prison and is currently appealing the sentence, claiming it exceeded federal guidelines.
Enrique Chavez, a food service foreman, has pleaded guilty and received a 20-month prison sentence. Ross Klinger, a recycling technician, has also pleaded guilty but is yet to be sentenced. John Russell Bellhouse, a prison safety administrator, is set to go to trial soon.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
