A former Hamilton County corrections officer, Quincy Scott, has been convicted of sexual battery against an inmate at the Hamilton County Justice Center. The conviction was handed down yesterday following Scott's decision to have a bench trial, which found him guilty of the third-degree felony offense, as reported by WLWT and confirmed by additional sources.
The incident, which took place on May 3, involved Scott and a female inmate whom he coerced into performing a sex act. According to evidence provided in court and cited by The Cincinnati, security footage showed Scott allowing the inmate into a control room where the act took place. During the trial, the victim testified that she complied with Scott's demands out of fear, telling the court, "she did what she was told to do," scared "not to do what she was told to do by a corrections officer." Scott's claims of engaging in "FaceTime sex with his fiancee" were found not to be credible by Judge Jennifer Branch.
Despite Scott's denial of the accusation, Judge Branch sided with the inmate's account, noting that the victim's testimony was credible and consistent. The WCPO reported Judge Branch's statement, "I find that her credibility is not undermined by the fact that she's an inmate." The judge also underscored the statute's purpose, highlighting the need to protect vulnerable populations from abuse within the justice system.
The former corrections officer, who had worked at the facility for less than a year before resigning a month after the incident, is now facing serious consequences. Scott could potentially be sentenced to up to three years in prison. However, Scott's attorney, Clyde Bennett II, expressed hopes for leniency, saying, "I don't think he should receive any jail time, I think he should be placed on community control," Bennett told WCPO. Scott's sentencing is scheduled for February 13, and he remains out on a $10,000 bond.
