Former nurse Tony Klein has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for sexually abusing women in custody at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, Oregon. The sentence, handed down on Tuesday, also includes five years of supervised release. Klein, who worked at the facility from 2010 to 2018, was convicted on 17 counts related to sexual abuse and four counts of lying under oath involving nine women.
Prosecutors argued that Klein sexually assaulted multiple women under his care, using his position of power to intimidate them and discourage them from reporting the abuse. Klein resigned from his position as the Oregon State Police investigated the allegations. He denies sexually assaulting anyone and plans to appeal the sentence.
During the trial, Klein’s lawyers suggested that the women in custody conspired against him to obtain financial settlements from the state. However, the jury unanimously reached a verdict in July, finding Klein guilty of violating the women’s constitutional rights and depriving them of protection against cruel and unusual punishment.
Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, commended the courage of the victims and the efforts of the FBI and Civil Rights Division in holding Klein accountable for his crimes. Since 2019, numerous women have sued the state Department of Corrections and Klein, alleging sexual abuse. The state has settled at least 11 of these cases, paying out a total of $1.87 million while admitting no wrongdoing.
