Family Sues McNeil Island Officers After Inmate Is Injured

January 20, 2010 (by Horatio Algren) According to reports the family of an inmate filed a legal suit claiming that at the time the inmate was injured, corrections officers were taking bribes for special favors.

The inmate that was injured sustained brain damage when he attempted to hang himself, during a time when corrections officers were allegedly taking bribes for access to cell phones and unauthorized conjugal visits. These could be bought and money was extorted from prisoners that would not pay according to the lawsuit filed by the family.

According to Tacoma attorneys Jack Connelly and Nathan Roberts their client attempted suicide in September of 2008. They also stated to The News Tribune that they are not sure how widespread the corruption at McNeil Island prison was in September of 2008.

Attorney Roberts stated it is part of the reason for their case, to see how many people were involved. Leon Toney was 31 at the time he attempted to commit suicide, this according to Toney , his guardians and his attorneys occurred after he was placed in solitary confinement.

According to Toney’s attorneys, he was placed in solitary confinement after he would not pay the bribery demands as a way of vengeance against the inmate. The lawsuit states that the corrections officers knew that Toney might be a danger to himself due to the fact that he had been previously diagnosed with mental health issues, and now remains in a semi-vegetative state.

The suit states that the Department of Correction officers either knew or should have known that improperly locking the inmate in solitary confinement. This would have aggravated Toney’s serious depression and suicidal ideation according to the suit. The outreach director communications spokes person Belinda Stewart for the Corrections Department stated there would be no comment and that while they extend their sympathy to Mr. Toney and his family they will defend their actions.

Stewart stated that they believe the evidence will show that Mr. Toney’s actions were what caused his injuries. The investigation conducted by the Washington State Patrol detective Juli Gundermann after Toney’s relatives alleged that his injuries could have been caused by foul play.

Gundermann stated there was no evidence to implicate the Department of Corrections officers with the exceptions of Toney’s family, according to a report Gundermann submitted to her superiors on May 28, 2009. Attorney’s Connelly and Roberts stated the investigation done by Gundermann, including the statements from corrections personnel are part of the basis for Toney and his relatives lawsuit.

Part of what was uncovered was that at least three female corrections employees at the prison had sex with inmates, smuggled cell phones, tobacco and drugs, as well as other contraband to prisoners. They also allowed prisoners to have sex with women from outside of the prison for a fee according to the report.