Mass. correctional officer accused of raping female inmate

WOBURN, Mass. (WPRI) — A Pawtucket man was taken into custody Wednesday for reportedly assaulting a female inmate several times at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution, according to Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Joao Gomes, 49, has been charged with four counts of rape and three counts of assault and battery.

Ryan said Gomes worked at the prison as a correctional officer at the time of the assaults. He is also accused of buying underwear for female inmates and has been charged with three counts of delivering articles to prisoners.

Gomes is the first to be charged in Middlesex County with rape under a statutory provision enacted nearly four years ago regarding sexual relations between law enforcement and inmates, according to Ryan.

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