Steven Powers, 35, a former probation and parole officer with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections was sentenced today in federal court in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to two years in prison for subjecting two female probationers to unwanted sexual contact.
According to court documents, during the course of supervising one victim, from on or about Nov. 3, 2015 through Jan. 19, 2017, Powers engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior, culminating in sexual assault. During the course of supervising the second victim, from on or about Nov. 2, 2015 through April 30, 2017, Powers likewise engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior, culminating in sexual contact against her will. In each of these instances, the defendant admitted he knew what he was doing was wrong and against the law, yet he did so anyway.
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate probation officers who exploit their authority to sexually assault the individuals they supervise, thinking their actions will go without consequence because of the power they wield,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division.
“Steven Powers violated the public’s trust and the fundamental ethics which guide our justice system. He used his position to prey on women he was entrusted to supervise,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores for the Northern District of Oklahoma. “The U.S. Attorney’s office will guard the constitutional protections afforded to all members of our community and aggressively prosecute corrupt individuals who violate those rights.”
“As an Oklahoma Probation and Parole Officer, Steven Powers abused the authority and trust bestowed upon him. Powers’ actions not only violated the Constitutional rights of his victims, but also undermined the integrity of our judicial system. The FBI remains committed to addressing incidents in which an officer’s actions betray the public’s trust,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Melissa Godbold of the Oklahoma City Field Office.
According to the plea agreement, in addition to the imposition of a prison sentence, Powers must forfeit his law enforcement certification.
This case is being investigated by the Oklahoma City Field Office of the FBI and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation in cooperation with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jarrod Leaman of the Northern District of Oklahoma and Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
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