Prisoners tell of sex with worker

GOUVERNEUR — About a month after he started working in the commissary of the Gouverneur Correctional Facility, a male inmate noticed a change with Rachael S. Patterson.

The calculations clerk in May started letting two inmates fondle her, which occurred several times over the next few months.

"When she did that all she would do was laugh," an unidentified inmate told investigators. "She never told us to stop."

Ms. Patterson also performed oral sex on two inmates on numerous occasions from May to August, along with allowing them to take food from the commissary without paying for it, court documents show.

She was accused earlier this week of having sexual contact with several male inmates at the medium-security prison, state police investigators said. She faces multiple criminal sexual act charges, along with sexual abuse and official misconduct.

The Ogdensburg resident was the third correctional facility employee charged in recent weeks with having repeated sexual contact with male inmates.

Ms. Patterson, 32, of 583 County Route 28, was arraigned Thursday in Gouverneur Town Court, with an attorney present, on three counts each of third-degree criminal sexual act and official misconduct, two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of petit larceny. She was released to probation supervision.

Gary W. Miles stood in for Todd J. Doldo as her attorney. Mr. Doldo will represent Ms. Patterson in future court appearances. The case will be presented to a St. Lawrence County grand jury.

She initially was arraigned on the charges Monday in Canton Town Court without an attorney.

Ms. Patterson surged past a reporter and photographer after her brief court appearance in court and quickly ran down a flight of stairs and jogged to her car. She stated only that she didn't want her picture taken.

Three inmates recounted stories of various encounters with Ms. Patterson in the commissary during interviews with investigators from the state Department of Correctional Services inspector general's office.

One inmate remembered having Ms. Patterson complete a sex questionnaire he wrote, along with providing another male inmate cash shortly before he was paroled, court documents show.

She also provided inmates working in the commissary with food from the outside — including McDonald's fare, Chinese food and brownies.

Ms. Patterson has been a corrections employee since December 2003, corrections officials said Monday. She was expected to be suspended without pay.

Last month, Laura E. Douglass, 38, Potsdam, and Lisa A. Vaughn, 41, Carthage, were charged with having sexual intercourse with inmates.

Mrs. Douglass was charged with 11 counts of third-degree rape and single counts each of third-degree criminal sexual act and first-degree promoting prison contraband, state police investigators said. She was a principal account clerk at the prison. She was accused of having sexual intercourse and oral sex with an inmate on numerous occasions from December 2007 to September.

Ms. Vaughn was charged with 16 counts each of third-degree rape, third-degree criminal sexual act and official misconduct and four counts of second-degree promoting prison contraband. She was a laundry supervisor at the prison. She was accused of having sexual intercourse and oral sex with four inmates, which apparently started in 2006. She also is accused of sneaking food, cigarettes and postage stamps to inmates.

All three women were charged with third-degree rape or third-degree criminal sexual act because by state law, inmates are incapable of giving consent, investigators said.

The state police and DOCS inspector general's office conducted the investigation. A confidential source tipped off authorities about the incidents, investigators said last week. The investigation continues.