Sex assaults by prison guard alleged

A 38-year-old prison guard is under investigation for alleged multiple incidents of sexual assault on three inmates at the Women’s Community Correctional Center in Kailua over a two-year period.

The suspect, who was hired in October 2007, was temporarily transferred in January from the Kailua women’s facility to the minimum-security Waiawa Correctional Facility.

The police said the female victims, ages 30, 31 and 34, were allegedly assaulted from March 2013 to November 2015.

The suspect was arrested on 37 counts of sexual assault and attempted sexual assault. He was arrested at the Waiawa facility at 6:10 p.m. Thursday and released two hours later. No charges have been filed as the investigation is still underway.

No other details were released by the police or the Department of Public Safety, which is conducting its own investigation.

An internal administrative investigation is also being conducted, as is standard procedure whenever abuse is alleged, said Toni Schwartz, a spokeswoman for the prison facilities.