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The Monroe County sheriff's captain charged with rape, official misconduct and unauthorized use of a computer was back in court today.
Catherine McLaughlin, 53, was charged with 13 counts of official misconduct, three counts of third-degree rape and one count of unauthorized use of a computer, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. She was arraigned and released on her own recognizance.
An indictment unsealed last Thursday alleges McLaughlin had sexual intercourse on three occasions, stemming between Feb. 1 and 28, March 2 and between March 3 and 23. The indictment reads that McLaughlin had sexual intercourse with a person not capable of consent, and who is over the age of 17.
A person is incapable of consent when he or she is in the custody of the state department of correctional services, according to penal law.
McLaughlin also faces 13 counts of official misconduct, stemming from incidents between February and March. On Sept. 15, the indictment alleges, McLaughlin accessed or used a computer with authorization.
Today, McLaughlin’s attorney, public defender Erik Teifke, described the alleged victim in the case as a “career criminal.” He said McLaughlin would give the victim some special privileges, like making a phone call, to ease the tension in the “pressure cooker” inside the jail. Teifke said that when McLaughlin stopped doing this for him, he got upset, went to the sheriff's office’s internal affairs department and made the allegations.
McLaughlin has been employed with the Sheriff's Office for 23 years in the jail bureau, Sheriff's Office spokesman John Helfer said. As of Sept. 17, she was suspended without pay after a criminal and internal investigation. The Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.
McLaughlin is back in court on Dec. 12. She is released without bail.
Includes reporting by Messenger Post newspartner News 10NBC.
The Monroe County sheriff's captain charged with rape, official misconduct and unauthorized use of a computer was back in court today.
Catherine McLaughlin, 53, was charged with 13 counts of official misconduct, three counts of third-degree rape and one count of unauthorized use of a computer, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. She was arraigned and released on her own recognizance.
An indictment unsealed last Thursday alleges McLaughlin had sexual intercourse on three occasions, stemming between Feb. 1 and 28, March 2 and between March 3 and 23. The indictment reads that McLaughlin had sexual intercourse with a person not capable of consent, and who is over the age of 17.
A person is incapable of consent when he or she is in the custody of the state department of correctional services, according to penal law.
McLaughlin also faces 13 counts of official misconduct, stemming from incidents between February and March. On Sept. 15, the indictment alleges, McLaughlin accessed or used a computer with authorization.
Today, McLaughlin’s attorney, public defender Erik Teifke, described the alleged victim in the case as a “career criminal.” He said McLaughlin would give the victim some special privileges, like making a phone call, to ease the tension in the “pressure cooker” inside the jail. Teifke said that when McLaughlin stopped doing this for him, he got upset, went to the sheriff's office’s internal affairs department and made the allegations.
McLaughlin has been employed with the Sheriff's Office for 23 years in the jail bureau, Sheriff's Office spokesman John Helfer said. As of Sept. 17, she was suspended without pay after a criminal and internal investigation. The Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.
McLaughlin is back in court on Dec. 12. She is released without bail.
Includes reporting by Messenger Post newspartner News 10NBC.
