Mikael Rivera, a former correctional officer at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu, has been arrested and charged with the sexual abuse of multiple female inmates.
According to court documents, Rivera allegedly committed multiple sexual acts with one inmate through the use of threats and engaged in sexually abusive conduct with two additional inmates under his supervision while on duty as a correctional officer from approximately 2014 to 2018.
The charges against Rivera include six counts of sexual abuse by threats and 11 counts of sexual abuse of a ward. If convicted, he faces a maximum of life in prison on each count of sexual abuse by threats and up to 15 years in prison on each count of sexual abuse of a ward.
“As alleged, the defendant abused his position of power as a correctional officer and sexually abused multiple inmates under his supervision,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
“Government employees entrusted with the custody of inmates are responsible for the safety of both the community as well as those inmates,” said U.S. Attorney Clare E. Connors for the District of Hawaii. “This prosecution holds a prison guard accountable for flagrantly and repeatedly violating the law, and thereby failing to meet this responsibility.”
The DOJ-OIG is investigating the case with assistance from the FBI. Senior Litigation Counsel Marco A. Palmieri and Deputy Chief Jennifer A. Clarke of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara D. Ayabe for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Hawaii
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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