FLORIDA – A former federal corrections officer has been indicted for the alleged sexual abuse of an inmate.
Lenton Jerome Hatten, 54, of Tallahassee, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with one count of sexual abuse of an individual in federal custody. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the indictment.
Hatten made his initial appearance in federal court to face the charge last week.
The indictment alleges that, between October 2021, and August 2022, Hatten engaged in sexual acts with an inmate while employed as a sports specialist for the Bureau of Prisons.
The trial for Hatten is set for June 5, 2023, at 8:15 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before the Honorable Senior United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
If convicted, Hatten faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, five years to Life on supervised release, and a maximum $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
