WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — An ex-Springfield prison corrections officer is denying charges that before he resigned his position he sexually assaulted a male inmate at the facility.
It’s a case that also includes allegations of a blackmail plot involving the smuggling of cigarettes into the facility as well as disputes over what specific conduct constitutes a “sexual act” under Vermont law.
Cameron Morin, 21, of Newfane pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Windsor County Superior criminal court to felony charges of sexual assault-no consent, sexual exploitation of an inmate, and lewd and lascivious conduct.
He has also been issued a civil ticket for introduction of contraband — tobacco — into the facility.
Morin was released Tuesday on conditions, including that not he have any contact with the inmate he is charged with sexually assaulting.
During the arraignment hearing Tuesday, James Valente, a Brattleboro attorney representing Morin, challenged whether there was probable cause to support the first two charges against his client — sexual assault-no consent and sexual exploitation of an inmate.
Valente said a Vermont State Police affidavit filed in support of the offense does not state whether the inmate alleging the sexual assault had consented or not.
“There is no description with respect to consent, indicating either a lack of consent or that there was no consent,” Valente told Judge Mary Miles Teachout.
As for the sexual exploitation charge, Valente said, “If Count 2 relates to the allegation of sexual contact between penis and hand we would respectfully submit that there’s no probable cause because sexual act is pretty narrowly defined.”
He added, “And that definition does not include contact between the hand and penis.”
Windsor County Deputy State’s Attorney Heidi Remick, who is prosecuting the case, told the judge there was enough evidence to support both charges.
She said the allegations in both charges involve oral sex between Morin and the inmate, which is also described in the affidavit.
The prosecutor said regarding consent, “The complainant said that he went along with the defendant’s advances because he feared being placed into solitary confinement and also because defendant allegedly threatened complainant’s family.”
Judge Teachout agreed with the prosecutor that there was enough evidence in the affidavit to support the charges.
“I have reviewed probable cause, but the request to change the outcome is denied,” the judge said.
According to an affidavit filed in the case by state police Detective Sgt. Jesse Robson, he was first made aware on Dec. 17 of the allegations that came in through a call to a Vermont Department of Corrections investigations hotline.
The report alleged Morin entered the inmate’s cell and touched the prisoner’s penis, the affidavit stated.
Robson wrote that he interviewed the inmate, who had since been moved to the Rutland jail.
The inmate reported that while he was prisoner at the Springfield facility in December that Morin had put his hands on the inmate’s penis, and that Morin performed oral sex on him, the affidavit stated.
The Springfield prison is an all-male, 370-bed facility, according to the state Department of Corrections website.
The inmate also told the detective that his cellmate pretended to be asleep, but actually saw some of the sexual contact.
That cellmate as well as other prisoners at the facility, the inmate reported, then began “blackmailing” Morin by making him smuggle cigarettes into the prison in exchange for not disclosing the sexual activity.
The inmate added that Morin was an “authority,” who could do anything to him, since he was a prisoner, including “getting him dragged, which is slang for being forced into solitary confinement,” the affidavit stated.
Robson, the detective, wrote in the affidavit that he interviewed Morin, telling him the questioning involved a sex allegation against him made by an inmate. Without providing the identity of the inmate making the claim, Morin referred to the inmate by name.
Morin said he would talk to the inmate about his “cutting up,” and “self-harming,” and would check on the inmate and offer help, the affidavit stated.
As the questioning continued, Robson wrote, it appeared Morin was becoming more nervous, with sweat dripping down his face.
Morin then admitted to touching the inmate’s “private area” with his hand once. “He also admitted to smuggling in cigarettes for inmates because he was being blackmailed,” the affidavit stated.
Morin was arrested Jan. 24 at the Springfield facility where the interview took place. He was released on a citation pending his arraignment Tuesday in White River Junction criminal court.
Michael Touchette, Vermont Department of Corrections commissioner, declined to comment on the case Tuesday, referring questions to Catherine Russell, executive staff assistant at the Department of Human Resources.
Following his arrest, Morin was placed on “temporary relief from duty” status effective Jan. 25, and did not return to work before his resignation, which was effective Feb. 27, according to Russell.
She added that Morin had started with the Vermont Department of Corrections as a corrections officer in Springfield in May 2018.
After the hearing Tuesday, Valente, Morin’s attorney, said the court records filed in the case reveal “significant evidence that there was a blackmailing plot against Mr. Morin.”
The defense attorney added that a statement from the inmate accuses his cellmate as the person blackmailing Morin by making him bring cigarettes into the facility.
Statements from other prisoners, Valente said, indicated the inmate who reported the sex allegations was blackmailing Morin.
“We just want to remind the public, who has already heard about charges that are fairly salacious, that Mr. Morin hasn’t been found guilty of anything,” Valente said.
“In fact,” the defense attorney added, “there is evidence that there is more going on here than the part you hear about at the first day that things come to court.”
Asked if his client was denying any sexual contact with the inmate, Valente said, “No comment.”
Valente then added, “If you ask me what my client is admitting or denying on anything, I’ll say no comment, just because he’s got the right to not comment on any charges against him, whether in court or in public.”
If convicted of all three charges, Morin faces up to life in prison.
