SUFFOLK COUNTY CORRECTIONS OFFICER ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY ENGAGING IN SEXUAL ASSAULT OF AN INMATE

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the arrest of Suffolk County Corrections Officer Jason Middleton, 35, of Central Islip, who is accused of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree and Official Misconduct, after allegedly forcing an inmate to perform oral sex.

“This defendant is alleged to have violated his oath and preyed upon an individual whom he was sworn to protect,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Hard-working corrections officers play an essential role in our criminal justice system and are entrusted with the care and safety of incarcerated individuals. My Office will not tolerate any abuse of that trust.  I thank the Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.”

“I am shocked and disgusted by the acts of this Correction Officer and this is something we have absolutely no tolerance for,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. “Make no mistake, this is no reflection of the men and women of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office who work hard day after day and take their oath of duty seriously.”

According to the investigation, on a date between April 26, 2023, and September 29, 2023, while Middleton was working as a Corrections Officer in the Riverhead Correctional Facility and tasked with guarding inmates, he allegedly escorted an inmate into a utility walkway between jail cells that he knew to be a blind spot in security camera coverage. Once inside, he allegedly closed the door and ordered the inmate to perform oral sex upon him, and the inmate complied.  Prior to the commission of the sexual assault, Middleton had allegedly previously threatened the inmate that if the inmate ever disobeyed him, he would plant contraband in the inmate’s cell that would likely result in additional criminal charges filed against the inmate.

On November 24, 2023, Middleton was arrested by members of the District Attorney’s Public Corruption Squad and is expected to be arraigned on November 25, 2023, in Southampton Town Justice Court for the charges of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, a Class E felony and Official Misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor. Middleton is expected to be placed on supervised release, as these offenses are not bail eligible under current New York State law.

This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Bureau Chief Laura de Oliveira and Bureau Chief Kevin Ward of the Public Corruption Bureau and was investigated by Senior Investigator Reinhardt Andersen and District Attorney Investigator Brian Wood of the District Attorney’s Public Corruption Squad, together with members of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office of Professional Standards.

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