A former West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation Parole officer was sentenced Friday in federal court in West Virginia to 15 years of imprisonment for violating the civil rights of a female parolee by sexually assaulting her while he was serving as her parole officer, officials stated.
According to court documents, Anthony DeMetro, 44, admitted that on or about April 16, 2021, he used physical force and his position, authority, and status as a state parole officer to force a female parolee to perform oral sex on him against her will.
At the time, the parolee attempted to complete residential drug and alcohol treatment as a condition of her parole. DeMetro admitted that he knew that the parolee did not want to have sex with him but that he coerced and forced her into doing so anyway for his sexual gratification.
“We thank the survivor for having the courage and strength to come forward to tell her story,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to hold accountable public officials who exploit their power and authority to sexually assault and harm vulnerable people.”
“Mr. DeMetro was in a position of power and authority,” said Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office. “He used that authority to take advantage of and prey on a vulnerable woman. This behavior was in violation of the oath he took and cannot be tolerated. The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate color of law abuses by public officials.”
The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Kathryn E. Gilbert and Daniel E. Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Coleman and Nowles Heinrich for the Southern District of West Virginia are prosecuting the case.