FORMER CORRECTIONS OFFICER PLEADS GUILTY IN SEX CRIMES CASE

November 6, 2019
Anna Merriman
VTDigger

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A former prison guard at the Southern State Correctional Facility pleaded guilty to one charge and no contest to another in a sex crimes case involving an inmate at the facility.
Cameron Morin, 22, of Newfane, appeared in court Tuesday for the plea. He will be sentenced following a pretrial investigation and a psychosexual examination, according to Windsor County Deputy State’s Attorney Heidi Remick. She added that the sentencing likely won’t occur for several months, although there is no date set yet.
Morin was charged in January with lewd and lascivious conduct and sexual exploitation following a five-week investigation into possible sexual crimes at the facility.
In court, Remick said the charges stem from two incidents late last year that involved sexual contact and oral sex between Morin and the inmate. Investigators started looking into the allegations after a male inmate called the Department of Corrections Investigation hotline, according to a news release from Vermont State Police. Morin also was issued a civil violation ticket for introducing tobacco into the facility, according to the release.
Morin pleaded guilty to the lewd and lascivious charge Tuesday and no contest to the sexual exploitation charge. The latter charge includes a penetrative sex definition, which Morin has denied, according to Remick.
An official with the Department of Corrections did not respond to calls for comment on the case.
A VtDigger story from March said that the department placed Morin on leave following the arrest in January and that he resigned in February.
The all-male facility is located in Springfield and can hold up to 370 inmates and 146 state employee positions, according to the DOC website.

Former corrections officer pleads guilty in sex crimes case

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