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Ex-prison guard pleads no contest to official oppression in sex abuse case

Times-Tribune - 3/14/2019

March 14-- Mar. 14--SCRANTON -- Over the objections of the victim, a Lackawanna County judge today approved a plea agreement that allowed a former prison guard charged with sexually abusing an inmate to plead no contest to a misdemeanor count of official oppression.

The state Attorney General's Office agreed to drop two felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse against George Efthimiou in exchange for the plea. It also agreed to recommend he be sentenced to an unspecified term of probation.

The normally routine plea hearing before Judge Julia Munley took an unusual turn when attorney Curt Parkins,who privately represents the victim, objected to the deal.

The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.

Parkins said the woman did not support the agreement. She was most upset Efthimiou was permitted to plead no contest, as opposed to guilty, which Parkins said allowed Efthimiou to minimize his conduct.

"This is not a situation for a no contest plea," Parkins said. "We are not talking about some silly larceny offense or marijuana offense. We're talking about a woman who was sexually assaulted by a county official while she was an inmate on house arrest."

Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Elo said, by law, authorities were required to contact the victim, which she did. The final decision was up to prosecutors.

"The commonwealth has an obligation to evaluate the case," she said.

While acknowledging Parkins' statements, Munley said she believed the plea agreement adequately resolves the case. She denied a request to immediately sentence Efthimiou, however, to allow the victim time to prepare an impact statement. Sentencing will be scheduled within 90 days.

"Her concerns are going to be taken into consideration," Munley said.

Efthimiou, 51,of 1121 Loomis Ave., Taylor, is among seven former guards charged in February 2018 with sexually abusing inmates based on a statewide grand jury investigation. Prosecutors said he coerced an inmate into having sexual intercourse with him at her home while she was on house arrest.

His case is the third to be resolved and the second to end with a no contest plea. On Feb. 21, Jeffrey T. Staff, 43, of 24 Briarwood Way, Clarks Summit, pleaded no contest to official oppression in exchange for one count of institutional sexual assault being dropped. Prosecutors said he had sex with an inmate while she was on work release.

A jury found the other defendant to face trial, George T. McHale, 51, of 513 Florin St., Scranton, not guilty of all charges on Feb. 7. McHale was charged with one count of institutional sexual assault and two counts of indecent assault for allegedly forcing an inmate to masturbate him in 2009.

Check back for updates.

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