OKLAHOMA
Former prisoner transport officer Dewayne Dudley, 56, pleaded guilty in federal court in Oklahoma to violating a male detainee’s civil rights by sexually assaulting and kidnapping him, officials stated.
“Dewayne Dudley is a predator who used his authority and position to control and violate the victim. He abandoned his ethical responsibilities and has been held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Clinton J. Johnson for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
A sentencing hearing has not yet been set.
Under the plea agreement, Dudley faces 12 to 15 years in federal prison. In addition, Dudley must pay restitution to the victim.
According to the plea agreement, at the time of the offense, Dudley worked as a prisoner transport officer for Blue Raven Services.
As a private prisoner transport officer, officials stated that Dudley performed the government function of picking up individuals arrested on out-of-state warrants and transporting those individuals back to the jurisdictions that issued the warrants, according to authorities.
On Aug. 26, 2021, Dudley picked up the victim, a male detainee, from a jail in Boonville, Indiana, to transport him to Valencia, New Mexico.
On Aug. 27, 2021, before arriving in New Mexico, Dudley stopped the transport van at a Holiday Inn Express in Marshfield, Missouri, where he rented a room.
Dudley brought the handcuffed victim into the hotel room and told him to shower.
After the victim had showered, Dudley pointed a gun at the victim and told him to undress. Dudley then proceeded to grope the victim’s genitals.
When the victim’s penis did not erect, Dudley handcuffed himself to the victim, before going to sleep.
Several hours later, Dudley resumed transporting the victim, before stopping the transport van at his (Dudley’s) apartment, located in Claremore, Oklahoma.
Against the victim’s protests, Dudley brought the handcuffed victim inside his apartment. While inside his apartment, Dudley again groped the victim’s genitals, causing the victim bodily injury.
The victim said, “No!,” and was able to break free and run outside of Dudley’s apartment.
The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Compton for the Northern District of Oklahoma and Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.