3 Corrections Employees Had Sexual Relations With Inmates: DA

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Three corrections employees were arrested for illegal activities involving inmates at the Taconic Correctional Facility and Sing Sing Correctional Facility. The arrests were announced Thursday, May 3 by Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr.

Scarpino said his office continues working with the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Office of Special Investigations into criminal activity within the correction facilities in Westchester County.

“Any inappropriate action between an inmate and a corrections employee can damage the safety and security of prisoners, corrections employees and the greater community,” he said.

State police arrested Iran Colon, 31, of Staten Island, Tuesday at his home and was brought back to Westchester. He is a correction officer based at the Taconic Correctional Facility in Bedford Hills.

He was arraigned on a 19-count indictment stemming from illegal activities involving an inmate victim between May 1, 2017, and Sept. 23, 2017.

The charges are as follows:

• Three counts of first-degree promoting prison contraband, felonies
• Five counts of third-degree rape, felonies.
• Four counts of third-degree criminal sexual act, felonies
• Seven counts of official misconduct, misdemeanors

Colon was released on bail. His next court date is May 22, but his appearance has been waived, meaning he does not have to be present.

He is suspended from his job without pay.

Garth Trail, 61, of Yonkers, was the former head cook at the Taconic Correctional Facility, employed by the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Authorities said Trail engaged in a sexual act with an inmate victim Sept. 27, 2017, in the kitchen area of the facility.

He was charged with third-degree criminal sexual act, a felony.

Trail was arraigned in Ossining and released on his own recognizance.

His next court date is May 23 in the Bedford Town Court. He resigned Sept. 30, 2017.

Former correction officer Melissa Hill, 43, of the Bronx, was employed at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. Police said she had a romantic relationship with an inmate from Nov. 19, 2017, to Jan. 30, 2018, in connection with her employment at the prison.

She was charged with two counts of official misconduct, misdemeanors.

Hill was given a desk appearance ticket and is due back in Ossining Town Court May 15 for arraignment.

She resigned April 16.

Sing Sing, which is located in Ossining, is a maximum security prison that houses adult males. Taconic is a medium security correctional facility that houses women only.

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