At the sole prison for women in the state, Tony Klein, 39, sexually attacked women while he was a nurse there.
Federal prosecutors announced that a man from Oregon who sexually abused female inmates while working as a nurse at a correctional facility was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Tuesday.
From 2010 through 2017, according to authorities, Tony Klein, 39, attacked inmates at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, the only state jail for women in Oregon. Prosecutors claim that he started abusing women about 2012.
Indicted on allegations that he denied the victims their constitutional right to be spared cruel and unusual punishment, he was subsequently found guilty in July.
Natalie Wight, the US attorney for the District of Oregon, hailed “the courage and resolve” of his victims in a statement.
She claimed that the sentence “sends a clear message that using a position of authority to prey on individuals in custody will never be tolerated by the Department of Justice.”
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Klein created up justifications to get certain ladies alone. In or near the time of medical appointments, he allegedly assaulted others, the report claimed.
Prosecutors stated in a sentencing letter that the defendant preyed on his victims with the knowledge that they would not dare report his crimes because they would not be believed.
A 41-year sentence was what the prosecution requested.
At her trial, seventeen women gave testimony against Klein. The Associated Press stated when he was found guilty that some claimed he pushed them into having sex while others claimed they felt they would be punished if they declined his approaches.
On 17 charges of denying his victims their constitutional rights and four counts of perjury, a jury found Klein guilty.
The defense team for Klein claimed that Klein had been wrongly convicted.
Attorneys Matthew McHenry and Amanda Thibeault released a statement saying, “We still think Tony Klein is innocent. They claimed Klein had successfully passed two polygraph tests and has constantly denied perpetrating the crimes.
“We look forward to the opportunity to appeal Mr. Klein’s convictions and are privileged to continue to support him and his family throughout that process,” they added.