ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Marquet Johnson, a former private prisoner transport guard, pleaded guilty in a New Mexico federal court to violating a female pretrial detainee’s civil rights by sexually assaulting her during a prisoner transport.
This happened while he was hired to transport her from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Delta County, Colorado.
Johnson pleaded guilty to depriving the victim of her constitutional rights by sexually abusing her with a weapon, and while she was handcuffed. When the inmate arrived in Delta, she reported the assault.
Johnson, 44, of West Memphis, Arkansas, additionally admitted to previously violating multiple other female pretrial detainees’ civil rights by sexually assaulting them during prisoner transports.
The attorney for the victim told 9NEWS her client feels relieved, but the trauma can never be undone.
"She’s definitely relieved. Relieved that he is being held responsible. Relieved he admitted to what he did to her. Relived that he won’t be doing this to anybody else, but again there’s no making up for what he did to her and how he has changed the trajectory of her life," attorney Laura Schauer Ives said.
Delta County's sheriff hired Inmate Services Corporation, in 2019, to transport the inmate from Santa Fe to his jail. The sheriff agreed to pay ISC $1.25 per mile, or $431 total.
During the trip, Johnson admitted to taking a weapon out and telling the woman to cooperate. "Otherwise, it was going to get ugly." He then admitted to holding the weapon against her cheek, while he sexually assaulted her.
Under the terms of the plea deal, Johnson will serve 27-30 years in prison.
A 9NEWS and KARE11 investigation connected Johnson to 15 suspected assaults.
Under the plea deal Johnson admitted to two other sexual assaults, but the federal government agreed not to charge him for any potential crimes it is currently aware of. He will only be sentenced for the assault that happened on the way to Delta County.
“The number of years in part reflects that there are multiple victims throughout the United States. They will not have the charges be in their name, but it certainly, 27 to 30 years contemplates that he is a serial rapist," Schauer Ives said.
In civil court, Schauer Ives won a $3 million summary judgment against ISC and a $3 million summary judgment against Johnson. She said she will do her best to recover what they can. Under the plea, Johnson also agreed to register as a sex offender.
Schauer Ives believes these private inmate transportation companies should not exist.
The Interstate Transportation of Dangerous Criminals Act, also known as Jeanna’s Act, is the only federal law that provides guidelines or standards for the niche industry of private companies ferrying prisoners.
It was passed in 2000 in response to the killer of 11-year-old Jeanna North of Fargo, North Dakota escaping from a private prisoner transport company.
The act, which is supposed to be enforced by the Justice Department, is aimed at preventing prisoner escapes. However, it also sets basic training standards for guards and safety rules for the people being transported, which, if violated, can result in $10,000 fines.
In the 23 years the act has been in existence, the DOJ has failed to take any action to enforce the training and safety standards.
"This should be the work of the government, and actual government actors, who are held responsible for their duty to the people that they hold captive," Schauer Ives said.
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