Zappala: More Arrests Of Corrections Officers Possible
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Just one day after a local prison guard was charged with allegedly targeting and sexually assaulting convicted sex offenders, new allegations are coming to light.
According to Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala, the first guard arrested may not be the only one involved, and that this is a much larger issue involving more guards.
Zappala says there will be 10, maybe 11 more arrests of corrections officers from SCI Pittsburgh. He says they were all somehow involved in what is being described as a two-year reign of terror at the facility.
The arrest of Harry Nicoletti, who is facing 92 different criminal counts - accused in the sexual and physical assault of more than 20 inmates, may be only the beginning, according to Zappala.
"I have directed additional arrests be made. So, there will be more arrests," Zappala said. "Right now, we could arrest up to at least 11 people."
The question being raised now is, how could this go on, more than 10 jail guards working inside a state prison facility, accused of breaking the law for nearly two years.
"You select your target, you isolate your target, you avoid the cameras. You can hide these types of things from the administration," said Zappala. "So, it doesn't surprise me that these types of things can go on for an extended period of time."
However, Nicoletti tells a different story. He says he's innocent.
In a series of e-mails sent KDKA's Marty Griffin in the last month, he says this "lie" - as he calls it - was told by one disgruntled corrections officer who does not like him and a number of inmates who are flat out lying.
According to District Attorney Zappala, a number of attorneys representing jail guards are calling him today suggesting they want to bring their client in to cooperate with the investigation.
RELATED LINKS:
Allegheny County District Attorney's Office
SCI Pittsburgh Guard Facing Inmate Abuse Charges
