NJ Prison's Highest Ranking Official, 4 Others Charged After Women Inmates Beaten

NEW JERSEY — Five more correctional officers, including the highest-ranking Department of Corrections official at New Jersey's Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women, were charged for their roles where women inmates were severely beaten on Jan. 12, Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck announced Wednesday.

Those charged include Department of Corrections Associate Administrator Sean St. Paul, Major Ryan Valentin, 44, of Bloomfield, Senior Correctional Police Officer Desiree Lewis, 33, of Elizabeth, Senior Correctional Police Officer Brandon Burgos, 22, of Roseland, and Senior Correctional Police Officer Marika Sprow, 32, of West Orange.

This brings the total charged up to 15 including St. Paul, a major, a lieutenant, four sergeants, and eight senior correctional police officers.

St. Paul was the highest-ranking DOC official at Edna Mahan on the night of the assaults and is the highest-ranking person to be criminally charged in this investigation, said Bruck.

"We promised to follow the facts wherever they go, and that's exactly what we've done," said Bruck. "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. 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 and Valentin were both charged with official misconduct (second-degree), conspiracy (second-degree), and tampering with public records or information (third-degree) after authorities say they approved, ordered, and was present at the facility for forced cell extractions where inmates were pulled from their cells and some beaten.

Lewis was charged with aggravated assault (second-degree) and tampering with public records or information (third-degree) after authorities say she allegedly forcibly assaulted an inmate, who was not resisting, or aided and abetted another officer who allegedly punched the inmate in the head and neck area about 28 times.

Burgos and Sprow were both charged with tampering with public records or information (third-degree) after authorities day they participated in the forced cell extractions and allegedly wrote a report that falsely reported the facts surrounding it.

"We will continue our investigation until we have charged all who played a role in these unconscionable assaults," said OPIA Executive Director Thomas Eicher. "We are committed to protecting those in state custody, and that means prosecuting any officers or officials who take action to harm inmates or who fail to intervene against and report such conduct in violation of their duties."

Acting Attorney General Bruck and Executive Director Eicher urged anyone with information related to this incident to report it by calling 1-844-OPIA-TIPS.

Additionally, the state has hired a consultant, Steve Carter of CGL Services, to begin the process of relocating the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women, according to mycentraljersey.com.

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