Second lawsuit filed against former corrections officer,
Spokane County for inmate rape

TACOMA, Wash. - December 8, 2008 - A second civil lawsuit was filed in United States District Court in Spokane last week to demand justice for an another inmate sexually assaulted by a corrections officer at a Spokane County corrections facility.

The first suit was filed in January of 2008, by female inmate Billie Rae Dupree. Dupree was assaulted and raped by Bernard Baumgarder, a corrections officer at Geiger Corrections Center in Spokane. Baumgardner plead guilty to criminal charges arising from the sexual assault and rape of Dupree.

During the civil investigation of Dupree's case, an internal e-mail was uncovered which revealed allegations that Baumgardner had sexually assaultedg another female inmate, Deanne Nordstrom.

On or about October 2006, Deanne Nordstrom was raped and assaulted by Baumgardner, a former corrections officer at Geiger Corrections Center in Spokane. Nordstrom was a county inmate in Geiger Corrections Center at the time.

Baumgardner repeatedly made unwanted advances toward Nordstrom prior to the incident. Nordstrom told Baumgardner she was not interested in him but Baumgardner threatened that if she reported his behavior, he would make her life very difficult and may even have her transferred. As Nordstrom only had several weeks remaining on her sentence, she did not want to invite trouble or jeopardize her chance of being released. Several days later, Baumgardner forcibly sexually assaulted Nordstrom.

"In addition to the inherent power correction officer Baumgardner held over female inmates like Ms. Nordstrom and Ms. Dupree, Baumgardner's ability to pray upon female inmates was made possible because Geiger failed to create and maintain proper safeguards that would protect female inmates from a sexual predator wearing a badge." Palace said. "Spokane County had a duty to protect Ms. Nordstrom's rights, even if she was a prisoner, and they have again demonstrated their indifference to protecting female inmates from sexual assaults."

Federal law protects prisoners from deprivation of their rights and protections while in prison. Nordstrom's lawsuit seeks accountability from Baumgardner and Spokane County for allowing sexually predatory conduct by a corrections officer. Nordstrom is seeking $1 million in damages plus attorney's fees.

"No one should be treated in this manner, even if they are an inmate," said attorney Patrick Palace, "Justice needs to be served in this case, and will hopefully prevent this terrible crime from happening to anyone else."

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