Tony Klein.Photo: Courtesy Michelle Burrows
A former Oregon corrections official has been indicted for allegedly sexually assaulting a dozen female inmates while he was serving as a nurse at the state’s only women’s prison, the Department of Justice announced Monday.
The indictment alleges that from 2016 to 2017, while Klein was working as a nurse at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, he committed various forms of sexual assault, including aggravated sexual abuse “and some resulting in bodily injury.”
Klein is also charged with four counts of perjury for giving false testimony during a 2019 deposition related to the alleged sexual misconduct, the indictment says.
Klein pleaded not guilty to the charges through his attorney,Oregon Public BroadcastingandThe Oregonianreport.
He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon.
Despite objections from prosecutors, a judge granted Klein pretrial release,The Oregonianreports. His trial is scheduled for May 16.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
Klein is currently on leave from his job as a registered nurse for Legacy Health,The Oregonianreports.
“While Mr. Klein has not been a DOC employee since 2018, today’s indictment shows that the voices of women in custody are heard and taken seriously.”
Now, she said, “the federal criminal justice system can rightly deal with these serious allegations.”
Klein has denied the allegations and was not previously criminally charged.
Klein and the state admitted no fault or wrongdoing as part of the settlement agreements.
Klein’s attorney did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.
source: people.com
