Corrections Officer Indicted on Rape Charges

Joao Gomes, a 49-year-old corrections officer from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, has been indicted on multiple charges, including four counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault and battery, related to incidents involving a female inmate at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Framingham. The charges, announced by Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, are the first in the county to be brought under a 2020 police reform law that addresses sexual misconduct by law enforcement officers with individuals in their custody. Gomes is also charged with three counts of delivering articles to prisoners, stemming from allegations that he purchased underwear for inmates. He was arrested at his home without incident, and a court appearance date has yet to be scheduled. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding the treatment of inmates and the accountability of corrections staff.