Ohio corrections officer indicted for sexual abuse of federal inmate
File Photo: Handcuffs © Big Stock Images.

Ohio corrections officer indicted for sexual abuse of federal inmate

December 29, 2024

CLEVELAND, OH — A federal grand jury in Cleveland has indicted Damon K. Perry, 52, of Youngstown, on charges of sexually abusing a female inmate under his supervision at the Mahoning County Jail. The facility, which houses federal detainees under contract with a federal law enforcement agency, was the site of two alleged incidents of abuse in November 2023.

According to the indictment, Perry, a corrections officer at the time, committed the first act of sexual abuse on November 9, 2023, while the inmate was in his custody. A second incident reportedly occurred on November 30, involving the same detainee. Prosecutors allege both acts were non-consensual and violated the inmate’s rights while she was under federal detention.

“A prison sentence should never include sexual abuse, and certainly not sexual abuse committed by someone to whom we have entrusted a prisoner’s care and custody,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. She emphasized that corrections officers have a responsibility to uphold the safety and rights of inmates under their supervision.

Shore News Network

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.