PHOENIX- Darrell E. McCoy, 51, formerly of Scottsdale, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes yesterday to 6 months’ home confinement and five years’ probation. This sentencing follows McCoy’s conviction on Nov. 2, 2018, after a jury trial where he was convicted of two counts of abusive sexual contact with a ward.
McCoy, a 17-year employee at the federal Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional Institution, Phoenix, developed a romantic relationship with an inmate whom he supervised on a work crew. Between Sept. 29 and Dec. 15, 2016, McCoy had sexual contact with the inmate in different locations on the prison grounds. After the inmate released to a halfway house, McCoy continued to communicate with the inmate via text messages, and also gave the inmate love notes. McCoy no longer works at the prison.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Rayes noted the great power disparity over inmates by guards, leaving no way to characterize a romantic relationship in those circumstances as free choice.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General. The prosecution was handled by Gayle Helart and Monica Edelstein, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-2:17-cr-01410-DLR-1
RELEASE NUMBER: 2019-018_McCoy
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
