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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 29, 2011
Four Guards Charged with Promoting Prison Contraband at Secure Center for Juveniles
State Inspector General Ellen Biben and Tompkins County District Attorney Gwen Wilkinson today announced the arrest of three current and one former youth developmental aides, and one individual in state custody, for the illegal promotion of dangerous contraband at the MacCormick Secure Center in Brooktondale. Each was charged with either possessing a cell phone or providing an individual in custody with cell phones, which are considered dangerous contraband in prisons and secure detention centers.
The arrests result from an investigation conducted by Inspector General Biben’s office. According to the criminal complaints, youth developmental aides, each responsible for the direct supervision of those in custody, were smuggling personal cell phones into MacCormick for individuals detained at the facility. All of the aides charged were allegedly provided cell phones by former aide Khrista Calcagno to smuggle into the facility for Julian Blazer, an individual who was in custody at MacCormick.
Personal cell phones are prohibited in prisons and secure detention centers. MacCormick is one of three secure detention centers in New York state mainly housing teenagers convicted in adult criminal courts of violent felonies. The facilities are operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.
The investigation is continuing.
Inspector General Biben said, “Putting cell phones into the wrong hands can lead to extremely dangerous consequences. The state employees arrested today are accused of jeopardizing the security of the detention facilities that they were supposed to be protecting. Such misconduct – particularly when it implicates public safety – will not be tolerated. I thank District Attorney Wilkinson and the State Police for working with us to end these abuses.”
Tompkins County District Attorney Gwen Wilkinson said, “It's illegal to bring cell phones into secure facilities because residents use them to organize criminal activity. Any employee of MacCormick Secure Center who smuggled a contraband phone to a resident has not only committed a crime; but has also knowingly provided the tools for the commission of future crimes. My office applauds the strong work of Inspector General Biben's office in investigating this matter.”
The following current and former youth developmental aides at MacCormick were each charged with Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree, a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison.
- David Brown, 47, of Weedsport. He worked for the State for about a year in 2000 and 2001 and then returned in July 2008 to the present. His most recent annual salary was $45,922.
- Khrista Calcagno, 31, of Auburn. She entered State service in October, 2010 and resigned in April of this year at a salary of $43,270.
- Patrick Clearwater, 27, of Elmira. He began State service in November 2005. His most recent salary was $47,248.
- Frank J. Kennedy, 53, of Cortland. He began State service in 1987. His most recent salary was $54,056.
Julian Blazer, 18, a detainee at MacCormick, was charged with the same crime.
The four current and former employees were arraigned in Town of Caroline Court and released on their own recognizance pending further court action. Blazer, initially charged October 26 as part of the investigation, is being held in the Tompkins County Jail pending further court action.
The defendants are all presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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