$300,000 Award to Wisconsin Prison Employee Raped by Prisoner
$300,000 Award to Wisconsin Prison Employee Raped by Prisoner
A Wisconsin federal jury awarded $300,000 to a female prison-employee who was raped by a prisoner. At the time of the rape, the woman was a payroll and benefits specialist at the Oregon Correctional Center.
The woman, who was working late on Dec. 28, 2001, was snuck up on by prisoner John Spicer, who was doing janitorial work. He held an 8-inch knife to her throat and ordered her to the restroom. After he sexually assaulted her, he left her naked and locked in the restroom. He then escaped prison and fled in her car. Spicer was subsequently apprehended and given a 53-year sentence for the assault.
At trial, the woman said she had informed her supervisors the week before that she felt unsafe when left with Spicer. She was advised she would not be left alone with him again. After a week-long trial, the jury awarded the maximum award allowed under a federal workplace discrimination law.
See: Associated Press
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