Darrell E. McCoy, Abusive Sexual Contact, Arizona 2016

A 51-year-old former Bureau of Prisons guard has been sentenced to 6 months’ home confinement and five years’ probation for his role in a sex crime at a federal prison in Arizona.

Darrell E. McCoy, a 17-year employee at the Federal Correctional Institution in Phoenix, was convicted of two counts of abusive sexual contact with a ward in November 2018 after a jury trial.

McCoy developed a romantic relationship with an inmate he supervised on a work crew, which began in September 2016 and continued until December of that year. Despite the power disparity between guards and inmates, McCoy maintained contact with the inmate through text messages and love notes after the inmate was released to a halfway house.

U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes noted during the sentencing hearing that the power imbalance between guards and inmates meant that any romantic relationship between the two was not a matter of free choice.

The investigation into McCoy’s actions was conducted by the Office of the Inspector General, and the case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gayle Helart and Monica Edelstein.

McCoy is no longer employed by the Bureau of Prisons, and his sentencing serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the trust and authority that correctional officers hold.

As a result of this investigation and prosecution, the community can rest assured that those who abuse their power and exploit vulnerable individuals will be held accountable.

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