Former Michigan Prison Officer Pleads Guilty to Sexual Conduct with Inmates
A 22-year-old former corrections officer at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual acts with multiple prisoners while on duty.
YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN — A former corrections officer at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility pleaded guilty Thursday to criminal sexual conduct charges for engaging in sexual acts with multiple prisoners while on duty.
Joshua Lee, 22, entered a guilty plea to one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to a press release from Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office. The charges stem from what officials described as “multiple sexual acts with several prisoners while working at the prison.”
Lee was originally charged with four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in October by the attorney general’s office. The charges carry a maximum 15-year felony sentence.
Attorney General Emphasizes Accountability
“No one is above the law, and everyone deserves safety from sexual abuse,” Nessel said in the press release. “Through the combined efforts of the Michigan Department of Corrections, the Michigan State Police, and prosecutors in my department, we have ensured that Mr. Lee will not only be held accountable but can no longer abuse his position.”
The case was investigated through a joint effort involving multiple state agencies. Lee’s guilty plea represents one count from the original four-count indictment filed against him last fall.
Broader Concerns at Women’s Facility
The criminal case comes amid ongoing safety and health concerns at the Women’s Huron Valley prison facility. At a February hearing of the Michigan House Oversight Committee, state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) detailed cases of mistreatment and inadequate medical care for incarcerated individuals at the facility.
Pohutsky also highlighted a prevalent mold issue affecting prisoners at the facility during her testimony to the oversight committee. The hearing focused on health and sanitation concerns that have emerged as systemic problems at the women’s correctional facility.
During the February hearing, Pohutsky related the case of Krystal Clark, a woman incarcerated at the facility who had visible mold growing in her ears and developed other health complications related to the facility’s environmental conditions.
The guilty plea by Lee adds another layer to ongoing scrutiny of operations and oversight at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility. The facility has faced increasing legislative attention regarding both staff conduct and facility conditions that affect prisoner welfare and safety.
Lee’s sentencing date has not yet been announced. The case was prosecuted by the Michigan Attorney General’s office as part of broader efforts to address misconduct within the state’s correctional system.
