FORT WORTH -- A female former correctional officer has been indicted on one count of sexual abuse of a ward at the Fort Worth Federal Correctional Institution, according to an indictment.
Michele L. O'Neal is accused of engaging in a sex act with an individual identified as "D.E." The inmate was under the custodial, supervisory and disciplinary authority of the defendant, according to the indictment returned Feb. 15.O'Neal could not be reached for comment, and court documents do not list an attorney.The indictment says the conduct occurred May 28. O'Neal was employed at the prison from Sept. 27, 2009, until she left service June 1, said Bureau of Prisons spokesman Ed Ross. Information on why she left was not available.The low-security prison, at 3150 Horton Road in southeast Fort Worth, held 1,827 male offenders as of Feb. 16.The accusation is the latest against federal corrections officers in Fort Worth. In December, a former correctional officer at Federal Medical Center Carswell was indicted on a federal count of sexual abuse of a ward. He is accused of a sexual act with a female inmate.A sexual act between a guard and inmate isn't considered consensual, even if force is not a factor. "Federal law states that consent is never a defense in staff sexual abuse cases and that any sexual relationship with an inmate is a crime," according to a 2009 report by the Justice Department inspector general.At the Fort Worth Federal Correctional Institution, staff sexual abuse of inmates was reported 19 times from 2001 to 2008, according to the inspector general. At Carswell, which had 1,322 prisoners as of Feb. 16, 58 incidents of sex abuse were reported over the same period.Darren Barbee, 817-390-7126Twitter: @DarrenBarbeeHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
