Four more corrections officers, associate prison administrator, charged in assault cases at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women

Andrew Bruck, the acting attorney general for New Jersey, announced on Wednesday that four more corrections officers and the associate administrator of the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Hunterdon County are being charged for the assaults of prisoners that took place on Jan. 12.

Between approximately 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 11 and 1:15 a.m. on Jan. 12, officers and supervisors assigned to the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility conducted forced cell extractions of inmates located in the Restorative Housing Unit complex and assaulted at least two women. Officials said officers purposely attempted to cause serious bodily injury to inmates by using excessive and unreasonable force in violation of state policy.

A total of 15 defendants, including associate administrator Sean St. Paul, have now been charged in the ongoing criminal investigation by the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability and the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office, with the assistance of the New Jersey Department of Corrections Special Investigations Division.

“We are holding accountable everyone who was involved in January’s brutal assaults, from the line officers working the cell block to the highest-ranking prison official on duty that night,” Bruck said. “With today’s charges, we are making clear that even the senior-most leadership at Edna Mahan must be held responsible for their illegal conduct.”

St. Paul, 55, of Newark was the highest-ranking New Jersey Department of Corrections official at Edna Mahan on the night of the assaults, and is the highest-ranking person to be criminally charged in the investigation. He was on duty on the night of the incidents. He has been charged with official misconduct in the second degree, conspiracy in the second degree, and tampering with public records. St. Paul allegedly approved, ordered, and was present at the facility for forced prison cell extractions. Members of the extraction teams allegedly used excessive and unreasonable force that night, violating state policies and injuring two women prisoners. St. Paul allegedly failed to properly notify other state officials of the incident. He also allegedly sent an email to his superiors in which he reported false information surrounding the forced cell extractions by not disclosing that unnecessary and unreasonable force was used against the two women and didn’t inform superiors that the women suffered injuries. He also falsely reported that the inmates apologized to him.

Former Associate Administrator Sean Major Ryan Valentin, 44, of Bloomfield, has been charged with official misconduct in the second degree, conspiracy in the second degree, and tampering with public records. He allegedly approved, ordered, and was present for the forced cell extractions, failed to properly report them, and reported false information.

Senior Correctional Police Officer Desiree Lewis, 33, of Elizabeth has been charged with aggravated assault and tampering with public records. She allegedly was part of the team that entered a woman’s prison cell to forcibly remove her. Lewis allegedly assaulted the woman, who was not resisting, and aided and abetted another officer who punched the woman in the head and neck area about 28 times. Officials said Lewis had a legal duty to prevent this unauthorized use of force. The woman suffered a concussion as a result of the assault. Lewis also allegedly wrote a report that included false information regarding the forced cell extractions, including not revealing that pepper spray was used against the woman without giving her an opportunity to comply.

Senior Correctional Police Officer Brandon Burgos, 22, of Roseland has been charged with tampering with public records. He allegedly participated in the forced cell extractions, including the woman who was given a concussion. Burgos allegedly wrote a false report regarding the facts surrounding the forced cell extractions, including not revealing that pepper spray was used against one victim without giving her an opportunity to comply with orders.

Senior Correctional Police Officer Marika Sprow, 32, of West Orange, has been charged with tampering with public records. She allegedly participated in the forced cell extractions of inmates and wrote a report that contained false information about the forced cell extractions, including not revealing that pepper spray was used against one victim, that unreasonable force was used against the woman, and that she suffered an injury as a result.

The Attorney General’s Office is asking anyone with information related to the incident or other prison abuse incidents to report them by calling 1-844-OPIA-TIPS.

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Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.