CO sentenced to jail for sex with inmate at Albion Correctional
ALBION – A former corrections officer was sentenced to six months in the county jail and 10 years of post-release supervision.
Jonathan Dejesus, 42, of Dunkirk apologized in Orleans County Court today before Judge Sanford Church.
Dejesus was sentenced for third-degree rape and official misconduct. He admitted to sexual intercourse with a female inmate at the prison in August 2022.
District Attorney Joe Cardone said the state Corrections Department strongly states to COs in their training that they are not to have relations with inmates.
“He compromised the other people he works with and his family by having this relationship,” Cardone said in court today.
Joanne Best, the public defender, said Dejesus is “extremely remorseful.” She asked that he not be incarcerated and only have the post-release supervision so he could continue working full-time in a new job he started last June. If the judge wanted Dejesus to be in jail, Best asked for weekends only.
“He is extremely regretful for what happened,” Best told Judge Church. “His behavior was inappropriate and he knows that.”
Church gave Dejesus six months in jail and 10 years of post-release supervision where he has to monitored. Church said Dejesus’s action were a clear violation of the policy of being a corrections officer.
Dejesus will have a hearing on April 17 to determine if he will be on the sex offender registry and at what level. He also has to pay a $1,000 sex offender fine, $300 court surcharge and $25 crime victim’s fee.
In other cases today in County Court:
• Kevin McEwen, 41, of Kendall pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.
McEwen was charged after firing two rounds from a Glock near people on Sept. 18 in Kendall in a dispute over car repairs.
McEwen didn’t try to hit anybody, he was just trying to scare them, Cardone said.
“He did not point at them,” Cardone said. “His intent was to intimidate.”
McEwen admitted in court to having a loaded firearm, and shooting it at a zucchini to scare people.
He faces up to two years in state prison when he is sentenced on May 1.
• Vincent McLeod, 26, a former inmate at Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion pleaded guilty to attempted promoting prison contraband for having a black ceramic razor blade on Nov. 29, 2022. He faces 1 ½ to 3 years more in state prison when he is sentenced on May 29.
He is now an inmate at Wallkill Correctional Facility serving an 8-year sentence for first-degree robbery and attempt assault in the first degree.
• Richard Cuello, 45, a former inmate at Orleans Correctional pleaded guilty to attempted assault in the second degree after an altercation with a corrections officer on March 23, 2023.
Assistant DA Susan Howard said Cuello jumped a CO when the officer went into the bathroom and caused the officer to hit his head, causing a concussion, dizziness and other issues that continue to keep him out of work.
Cuello said he was brushing his teeth when the officer sprayer him in the eyes, causing him to react. When the two tumbled to the ground the officer hit his head on a chair, Cuello said.
Judge Church told Cuello he could go to trial and say he was using self-defense, but Cuello would risk a more serious charge. He opted to pleaded guilty to attempted assault, with a maximum of another 1 ½ to 3 years in prison. He will be sentenced on May 29.
He is now an inmate at the Upstate Correctional Facility in Malone. He is serving a 25-year sentence for first-degree murder.
