East Bay Prison Sex Abuse Trial Opens With Account of Guard’s ‘Ultimate Control’
As the final criminal trial against a former official at FCI Dublin began Monday, prosecutors described a culture of abuse, retaliation and cover-up that they said allowed him to sexually abuse women incarcerated at the now-shuttered East Bay prison for six years.
They said Darrell Wayne Smith — whose case stemmed from a larger investigation into the prison known by former workers and incarcerated women as the “rape club” — threatened, bribed and held power over the heads of five women he is accused of sexually abusing while working as a correctional officer.
“Defendant Darrell Smith liked power, and he abused that power,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sailaja Paidipaty said during her opening statement. “He abused his power when he fondled [one victim’s] breasts. He abused his power when he pinned her against a wall and shoved his fingers into her anus. … He used his power for many years to sexually abuse many women.”
