Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that Kimberly Danfelt, a former Department of Corrections employee, has pleaded guilty to a felony count of Institutional Sexual Assault. Danfelt was charged in June 2022 for having sexual contact with an inmate at the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon, where she was the inmate’s supervisor at the facility’s garment factory.
“The defendant used her position of authority to brazenly engage in unlawful acts with an inmate,” said Attorney General Henry. “My office is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of Pennsylvania’s public institutions, and holding bad actors accountable.”
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections’ Bureau of Investigation and Intelligence conducted an investigation and provided video evidence of Danfelt and the inmate hugging, kissing, and engaging in other inappropriate acts. Danfelt and the inmate also admitted to engaging in sexual acts at the facility.
Danfelt is set to be sentenced on July 20, 2023. The Huntingdon County District Attorney’s Office referred the case to the Office of Attorney General, and it was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Philip McCarthy.
Cases like this highlight the importance of holding those in positions of authority accountable for their actions, especially when it comes to the safety and well-being of inmates. The Department of Corrections has a responsibility to ensure that individuals in their care are treated with respect and dignity, and those who violate this trust must face the consequences.
