Ex-Oregon Prison Nurse Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Women in Custody Gets 30 Years
A former nurse who was found guilty of assaulting women while they were being held in an Oregon jail was given a 30-year federal prison sentence.
Five years of supervised release following prison is part of Tony Klein's punishment, which was handed down on Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office — District of Oregon said in a statement. He might have received a life sentence.
In July, Klein was found guilty on 17 charges of sexual assault and 4 counts of lying under oath involving nine women by a federal jury. Jurors discovered that when the ladies were incarcerated at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, south of Portland, he violated their constitutional right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.
From 2010 to 2018, he served as a nurse at the jail, engaging with women who were either inmates receiving medical attention or employed by the prison's medical section. According to the prosecution, Klein sexually abused numerous women who were entrusted to his care, making it obvious to them that he was a powerful man and that their allegations would not be taken seriously. While the Oregon State Police looked into the claims of assault, Klein resigned.
The 39-year-old Klein denies ever sexually abusing anyone, and according to his attorneys, he intends to appeal the ruling. On the trial, he did not testify.
During the trial, Amanda Alvarez Thibeault and Matthew McHenry, Klein's attorneys, made suggestions that implied the prisoner women were involved in a scheme to collect financial compensation from the state.
According to jury foreman Patrick O'Halloran, the jury returned a unanimous decision "after careful consideration" in July.
The prosecution said that Klein betrayed the public's confidence by abusing his position and abusing women while making every effort to evade detection.
“Holding Tony Klein accountable for his crimes would not have been possible without the courage and resolve of the women he abused and the dedication of our partners at the FBI and Civil Rights Division,” Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, said in a statement.
Since 2019, numerous women have filed lawsuits alleging sexual abuse against Klein and the Louisiana Department of Corrections. While acknowledging no misconduct, the state has settled at least 11 of them and given out a total of $1.87 million.
References
Davis, E. (2023, October 18). Ex-Oregon Prison Nurse Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Women in Custody Gets 30 Years. USNews.com. Retrieved October 21, 2023, from https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2023-10-17/ex-oregon-prison-nurse-convicted-of-sexually-assaulting-women-in-custody-gets-30-years
Haworth, J. (2023, October 19). Former nurse sentenced to 30 years for sexually assaulting multiple inmates at Oregon's only women's prison. ABC News. Retrieved October 21, 2023, from https://abcnews.go.com/US/former-nurse-sentenced-30-years-sexually-assaulting-multiple/story?id=104133702
USA Today. (2023, October 20). Ex-Oregon prison nurse convicted of sexually assaulting female inmates gets 30 years in prison. USA Today. Retrieved October 21, 2023, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/10/18/oregon-prison-nurse-sexually-assaulting-female-inmates/71236340007/