Arizona prison guard sentenced to house arrest for sexual misconduct

PHOENIX — A former Phoenix correctional officer was sentenced Monday to six months home confinement and five years probation for abusive sexual conduct with an inmate.

Darrell E. McCoy, a 51-year-old former resident of Scottsdale, was found guilty in November 2018 on two counts of abusive sexual contact with a ward, according to a press release.

Between September and December 2016, McCoy had sexual contact with the inmate and gave her “love notes” prior to her release.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the two continued the relationship for four months after her release.

According to the release, U.S. District Judge Douglas L. Rayes said at the hearing that because of the power disparity between inmates and guards, there was no way to characterize a romantic relationship in those circumstances as free choice.

McCoy worked at the Federal Correctional Institution in Phoenix for 17 years.

“Darrell McCoy’s duty was to protect the inmates at the prison where he worked, but instead he abused his power by engaging in sexual conduct with one of those inmates,”  Special Agent In Charge Sandra D. Barnes said in a press release at the time of his conviction.