Michigan Corrections Officer Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Prisoners

A former corrections officer at Michigan’s only women’s prison has been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison after admitting to sexually abusing incarcerated women, adding to mounting concerns about conditions and oversight at the troubled facility.

Joshua Lee, 22, of Wyandotte, received a sentence of 18 months to 15 years from Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Arianne E. Slay. He pleaded guilty to one count of second‑degree criminal sexual conduct involving a state prisoner, according to an announcement from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Investigators say Lee engaged in multiple sexual acts with several incarcerated women while working at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility near Ypsilanti. When Lee entered his plea, Nessel said that her office would continue to pursue accountability for corrections staff who exploit their authority, emphasizing that incarcerated people are entitled to safety and protection.

Lee was originally charged in November 2025 with four counts of second‑degree criminal sexual conduct involving a prisoner, each carrying a maximum penalty of 15 years. Michigan State Police referred the case to the Attorney General’s Office.

Although the allegations included sexual penetration, Nessel’s office noted that Michigan law does not specifically criminalize penetration by corrections staff. Under current statutes, both sexual contact and penetration must be charged under second‑degree criminal sexual conduct. Nessel has urged lawmakers to update the law so that first‑ and third‑degree criminal sexual conduct statutes explicitly cover penetration by corrections employees.

Lee’s case comes amid growing scrutiny of Women’s Huron Valley, which has faced years of complaints involving medical neglect, unsafe conditions, toxic mold, retaliation against prisoners, understaffing, contraband, violence, and staff misconduct.

The prison drew renewed attention this spring after three women died there within a span of less than a month. Ashley Hoath, 36, died June 6 after being transferred from the prison’s medical unit to a hospital. Her death followed those of Khaira Howard, 28, on May 13, and Rebecca Fackler, 57, four days later. Another woman, Jennifer Jean Wallace, 54, died in November from sepsis‑related complications.

Families, incarcerated women, advocates, and lawmakers say the deaths reflect a broader crisis inside the facility, where women have repeatedly reported being denied adequate medical care and punished for speaking out.

The prison is also facing civil rights litigation alleging that officers used body cameras to record women during strip searches, showers, medical appointments, and other private situations. A federal lawsuit describes widespread mold throughout the facility. In a June 24 order summarizing the allegations, U.S. District Judge Stephen J. Murphy III wrote that mold “infests” the prison, damages structural materials, drips from ceilings, and falls from air vents. The Michigan Department of Corrections has denied that the prison has systemic toxic mold problems.

The recent deaths prompted 30 state lawmakers from both parties to call for the resignation of MDOC Director Heidi Washington, accusing her of a pattern of denial and obstruction. Washington has rejected calls to step down and says the department is investigating the deaths.

Advocates argue that Lee’s case underscores the state’s failure to protect women in custody. Women’s Huron Valley is intended to be a secure environment where incarcerated women are monitored and safeguarded, but prisoners and supporters say it has instead become a place where women are ignored, exposed to unsafe conditions, denied care, retaliated against, or abused by those in positions of authority.