DUBLIN — The now-former warden of a Bay Area federal prison sexually abused one incarcerated women, scheduled times for her to undress in his presence, collected a “large volume” of nude photographs on his work cellphone, and made a grotesque sexual demand of a prisoner, according to prosecutors.
Ray J. Garcia, the now-former warden of FCI Dublin, was indicted this week on charges of sexual abuse of a ward and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. In news releases, prosecutors have alleged he sexually abused a prisoner on at least two occasions, told her there was no point in reporting it as he knew the person tasked with investigated such incidents, and amassed nude photographs of at least two incarcerated women.
But the criminal complaint filed in federal court offers more details on Garcia’s alleged crimes, as well as Garcia’s denials in interviews with federal authorities. Garcia has pleaded not guilty and is free from custody while the charges are pending. His next court date has been set for Nov. 12.
The complaint alleges that the first instance of sexual abuse occurred in December 2019, when Garcia touched the alleged victim’s genitals. It says that in conversations with the woman — known in court records only as Victim 1 — Garcia said he was “taking a risk” on her and opened up about his personal life; he allegedly told her his birthday, talked about a having a timeshare in Las Vegas, and shared details about his children. He later helped her transfer to another prison that was closer to her family, the complaint says.
“During another incident, Garcia told Victim 1 that he would be doing rounds at a certain time the next day and he wanted to see her. Victim 1 understood that to mean that she should be naked when Garcia did his rounds. The day of the incident, Victim 1 went into another inmate’s cell (Witness 2) that Garcia told her to use because it had only one neighboring cell and was therefore ‘safer,’” FBI Special Agent Katherine Barclay wrote in the complaint.
When Garcia was interviewed about the allegations he admitted to looking at incarcerated women while they were undressing but added, “I don’t like schedule a time like you be undressed and I’ll be there,” the complaint says.
Victim 1 also described an incident where Garcia allegedly gave one victim a food item and told her to use it as a sex toy. The victim said she did so, and that Garcia took the item back and continued eating it as he walked around the prison.
Garcia allegedly told the victim he was “close friends” with a Special Investigative Services investigator who would protect him if she ever complained about his conduct. The investigation into Garcia was prompted by a tip from the woman’s attorney, who told authorities that Victim 1 “reported psychological distress, including difficulties eating, concentrating, and sleeping,” the complaint says.
“As a result of this report and other information, FBI and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General began an investigation,” Barclay wrote.
Source: www.mercurynews.com