Women Accuse Prison Workers of Sexual Assault

Five women sue Oregon, claiming they were sexually abused at Coffee Creek prison

Five women have filed suit against Oregon and the Department of Corrections, accusing former Coffee Creek Correctional Facility employees of sexual assault, battery and harassment.

The women, who were inmates at the time of the alleged crimes, seek millions of dollars, claiming the Corrections Department's negligence allowed the abuse to occur and caused inmates emotional and physical distress.

The state and the Corrections Department are named in all five suits filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

Two women also name as a defendant Troy Bryant Austin, 35; one names Austin and Richard Kaleo Rick, 37. A fourth suit names Paul William Golden, 37, and a fifth names Darcy MacKnight, 29.

Austin, Golden and MacKnight worked at the Wilsonville women's prison until they resigned earlier this year after they were arrested on accusations of sexual misconduct with inmates. Rick worked at the prison less than a year in 2008.

MacKnight was a correctional officer; the others worked in maintenance or as groundskeepers.

In separate cases filed earlier this year in Washington County, Golden and Rick were indicted on charges of delivering drugs to inmates. The state is prosecuting all four on charges of sexual misconduct.

Over the course of three years, beginning in 2006, the women reported several incidents of forced sexual contact with the Coffee Creek staff, varying from verbal assault to sexual intercourse, according to the lawsuits.

The lawsuits accuse MacKnight of a one-time encounter and allege Austin maintained an unwanted relationship with one of his victims for two years.

The Oregonian is not identifying the women because they could be victims of sexual crimes.

Brian Lathen, a Salem attorney representing four of the women, said the cases call attention to supervision issues at the 8-year-old prison, which houses just more than 1,000 inmates.

Although the Corrections Department didn't directly assault the women, Lathen said lack of awareness facilitated the crimes and warrants that the department take responsibility.

Lathen's clients filed claims in addition to the sex offense accusations, including intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligent supervision, civil rights violation and statutory negligence.

Each suit includes eight claims, each seeking in excess of $1 million.

More women are expected to file suit, Lathen said.

-- Christine DiGangi; christinedigangi@news.oregonian.com