Former CO at Albion prison sentenced to 6 months in jail for sex act with inmate
ALBION – A former corrections officer at the Albion Correctional Facility was sentenced today to six months in the Orleans County Jail, plus 10 years of probation for a criminal sex act with an inmate.
David F. Stupnick, 26, of Medina also will have to register as a sex offender. A hearing was set for April 9 to determine what level he will be as a sex offender.
Stupnick pleaded guilty on Dec. 12 to criminal sex act with an inmate in the third degree. He allegedly had inappropriate sexual relations with two female inmates at the Albion Correctional Facility.
Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church issued orders of protection for the two victims.
Stupnick was arrested on May 17 by State Police and was charged with four counts of sex abuse in the 2nd degree, two counts each of criminal sex act in the 3rd degree and official misconduct.
His attorney, Cheryl Meyers Buth, asked for no jail time and only probation and community service. She said Stupnick has lost a $70,000 a year job and been prominently featured in the news throughout Western New York since his arrest. She said he fell victim to his emotions with the crime.
District Attorney Joe Cardone asked for jail time, saying corrections officers are well educated by the state Department of Corrections that they are not to have any sexual relations with inmates.
“This stuff wasn’t appropriate,” Church said during Stupnick’s sentencing. “There has to be penalties for type of conduct.”
The judge also imposed $1,425 in court fees and fines on Stupnick, including $1,000 for a sex offender victim fee, $300 for a court surcharge, $50 for a DNA database fee and $25 for a crime victim’s fee.
