California’s former warden of a prominent women’s prison is currently on trial for sexually abusing some inmates entrusted in his care.
Ray J. Garcia was the warden at the Federal Correctional Institution, in Dublin, California. He had been there for less than a year. Garcia was then arrested in September 2021. He was charged with seven counts each of sexual abuse against three of his inmates. Garcia was an associate warden at this facility when the alleged abuse took place between December 2019 to July 2021.
Garcia is being accused of disturbing allegations. One of Garcia’s alleged victims was the one who cleaned the prison visitation area. She testified that Garcia had made her feel romantically attracted to her after she expressed an interest in him. She claimed that he eventually dumped her in a bathroom visitation room.
She said that she couldn’t believe what was happening, but it made me feel like he loved and cared about my feelings, and I wanted him to be happy.
In her testimony, another woman made similar claims.
A prisoner identified as Melissa claimed that Garcia had repeatedly expressed the desire to “f ***” her and often showed her naked photos of himself. She claimed Garcia had forced her to touch his genitals digitally at least once.
Garcia was also accused of forcing prisoners to change into their naked clothes and pose naked inside their cells.
Garcia admitted to the FBI that he saw inmates dressed up in various ways… Garcia said that if they were undressing, he’d already seen them. Garcia was reportedly interviewed in July 2021. “I don’t schedule a time like, “You be undressed and I’ll be there.”
FBI claimed that agents found images of naked prisoners on Garcia’s government-issued cellphone when they arrested him. Shortly after Garcia’s arrest, Garcia resigned from his position.
If convicted, he could spend up to 15 years behind bars.
According to reports, the culture of sexual abuse in the prison was so widespread that some prisoners called it a “rape group.” Four other officials were also accused of sexual misconduct in addition to Garcia. Three of them, including James Theodore Highhouse who was the former chaplain, have already pleaded guilty to various charges. A fourth one will be tried next year.
Romantic relationships between prison officials and inmates are strictly forbidden. No inmate, regardless of their age, can consent to a sexual relationship between guards or administrators. These are considered to be in high-ranking positions. Sexual assault is therefore a crime.
The Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin is a prominent prison that has been home to many celebrities over the years. Patty Hearst, and Heidi Fleiss (ex-Hollywood madam), both spent time there. Lori Loughlin, Felicity Huffman, and Felicity Fleiss spent some time there in connection with a scandal involving federal college admissions. Although Garcia was a prison officer during their sentences, there are no indications that Loughlin and Huffman ever had contact with Garcia. Even if they did, it is not clear that he did anything illegal.
