Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the indictment of Jason Middleton, a 35-year-old corrections officer from Central Islip. Middleton faces charges of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree and Official Misconduct for allegedly coercing an inmate to perform sexual acts at Riverhead Correctional Facility.
"Today we announce that the grand jury has returned an indictment against a corrections officer employed at the Riverhead Correctional Facility on charges related to alleged misconduct with an inmate," stated District Attorney Tierney. He emphasized the seriousness with which his office takes such allegations, particularly when they involve individuals in custody.
Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. commented on the case: "The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office has zero tolerance for the alleged actions of this employee." Sheriff Toulon assured continued cooperation with the District Attorney's Office and clarified that these allegations do not reflect on other officers' professionalism.
The investigation revealed that between April 26, 2023, and September 29, 2023, Middleton allegedly led an inmate into a security camera blind spot within the facility and coerced them into performing oral sex under threat of planting contraband to frame additional charges.
Middleton was arrested by members of the District Attorney’s Public Corruption Squad on November 24, 2023. Since then, he has been suspended without pay. On October 11, 2024, he was arraigned before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis and placed on supervised release as proceedings continue.