{"id":5554,"date":"2026-06-19T10:49:03","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T10:49:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/2026\/06\/19\/former-whv-correctional-officer-sentenced-after-guilty-plea\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T10:49:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T10:49:07","slug":"former-whv-correctional-officer-sentenced-after-guilty-plea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/2026\/06\/19\/former-whv-correctional-officer-sentenced-after-guilty-plea\/","title":{"rendered":"Former WHV correctional officer sentenced after guilty plea"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Content warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Joshua Lee, former corrections officer at<a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/corrections\/prisons\/womens-huron-valley-correctional-facility\"> Women\u2019s Huron Valley Correctional Facility<\/a>, was sentenced to 18 months to 15 years in prison with eligibility for parole eligibility Thursday morning. Lee <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clickondetroit.com\/news\/local\/2026\/04\/24\/former-michigan-corrections-officer-pleads-guilty-to-criminal-sexual-conduct\/\">pled guilty<\/a> to one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a state prisoner at the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sado.org\/Community\/Circuit\/22\"> 22nd Circuit Court<\/a> in Washtenaw County.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The case was initially referred to the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/ag\"> Michigan Department of Attorney General<\/a> in November 2025, following an investigation into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox2detroit.com\/news\/whistleblowers-allege-abusive-culture-at-womens-huron-valley-correctional-facility?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">recurring instances<\/a> of sexual assault at WHV by the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/msp\"> Michigan State Police<\/a>. Subsequently, Lee was initially <a href=\"https:\/\/content.govdelivery.com\/accounts\/MIAG\/bulletins\/3f9d6bf\">charged<\/a> with four counts of sexual assault involving penetration. He pled guilty to one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in his district court hearing, while the remaining three charges were<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlns.com\/news\/michigan\/former-huron-valley-corrections-officer-pleads-guilty-to-criminal-sexual-conduct\/\"> dismissed<\/a> in April as part of a plea agreement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During Lee\u2019s sentencing, Assistant Attorney General Keith Clark said abuses of power within incarceration facilities undermine the institution\u2019s integrity and rehabilitation efforts.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"scaip scaip-1    \">\n\t\t<\/aside>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe very nature of having a relationship with a prisoner inside of a prison threatens the entire safety and security of the institution,\u201d Clark said. \u201cIt increases the possibility of inequities in power structure, which can lead to violence among prisoners.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to time in prison, Lee\u2019s sentence requires him to register on the<a href=\"https:\/\/mspsor.com\/Home\/OffenderDetails\/06a9bc4d-c974-4916-9108-d0ad8bffde94\"> Michigan Sex Offender Registry<\/a> for 25 years and complete the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/corrections\/our-operations\/bhcs\/msapp\"> Michigan Sexual Abuse Prevention Program<\/a>. Lee is eligible to appeal the sentence until July 30.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the state of Michigan Constitution<a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislature.mi.gov\/Laws\/MCL?objectName=MCL-750-520c\"> criminalizes<\/a> sexual contact from correctional officers, it also states officers cannot be charged with first or second-degree criminal sexual conduct \u2014 regardless of the specifics of the charges. Attorney General Dana Nessel has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/ag\/news\/press-releases\/2026\/04\/24\/former-womens-huron-valley-correctional-facility-corrections-officer-pleads#:~:text=%E2%80%9CNo%20one%20is,abuse%20his%20position.%E2%80%9D\">spoken out<\/a> in reference to this case, calling for state lawmakers to amend the state\u2019s constitution to hold correctional officers to the same legal consequences for sexual assault.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This case \u2014 along with recent<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/detroit\/news\/3rd-woman-dies-huron-valley-correctional\/\"> deaths<\/a> at WHV \u2014 has<a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/deaths-at-michigan-womens-prison-spur-calls-for-whitmer-to-act-director-to-resign\/\"> sparked<\/a> conversations regarding<a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandaily.com\/news\/government\/recurring-health-and-safety-concerns-deaths-at-womens-huron-valley-correctional-facility-addressed-in-state-hearing\/\"> recurring<\/a> health and safety concerns within both the facility and the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigan.gov\/corrections\"> Michigan Department of Corrections<\/a>. Judge Arianne E. Slay referenced broader <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prisonpolicy.org\/scans\/women_prison.pdf\">systemic concerns<\/a> of incarcerated women experiencing sexual violence when addressing the court. Slay said corrections officers hold a position of power and have a responsibility to care for the women at the facility \u2014 not take advantage of their<a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/hojo.12605\"> vulnerable<\/a> position as inmates.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThese were exceedingly egregious acts,\u201d Slay said. \u201cYou\u2019ve harmed some of our most vulnerable people in our community. I think the part that kind of struck me, I\u2019m not sure at the time (of the acts) you thought that you were harming them \u2014 which is worrisome, because you were in such a position of power.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"scaip scaip-2    \">\n\t\t<\/aside>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WHV has also received <a href=\"https:\/\/housedems.com\/michigan-legislative-black-caucus-demands-urgent-reforms-at-womens-huron-valley-correctional-facility-following-medical-neglect-case\/\">scrutiny<\/a> over the alleged medical neglect of its inmates. During the hearing, Slay referenced an instance where Lee was seen making sexual contact with an inmate in need of immediate medical care.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLee\u2019s conduct threatened the security of WHV,\u201d Slay said. \u201cNamely, at least one instance when another prisoner was having a seizure, Mr. Lee was involved in sexual contact.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Throughout the initial investigation of Lee\u2019s charges, a majority of the victims decided to maintain public anonymity. However, continuing concerns for medical neglect \u2014 including the deaths of inmates Rebecca Fackler, Ashley Hoath and Khaira Howard \u2014 have influenced more formerly incarcerated women to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/detroit\/news\/women-speak-out-huron-valley-correctional-facility-death-investigation\/\"> speak<\/a> publicly on WHV.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In response,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandaily.com\/news\/government\/community-protests-poor-prison-conditions-at-justice-for-women-at-huron-valley-event\/\"> community advocates<\/a> across Washtenaw County have called for<a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandaily.com\/news\/government\/women-at-huron-valley-correction-facility-send-policy-proposal-to-state-leaders-to-release-800-women-over-three-years\/\"> clemency<\/a> for hundreds of inmates,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wxyz.com\/news\/region\/washtenaw-county\/michigan-lawmakers-demand-prison-director-resign-after-2-women-die-at-states-only-womens-prison\"> resignation<\/a> of MDOC Director Heidi E. Washington and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reels\/DVmfxsuDy3w\/\"> closure<\/a> of WHV entirely.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Current WHV inmate Lilly Xiong delivered a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/criminal\/criminal-vns\/victim-impact-statements\"> victim impact statement<\/a> at Lee\u2019s sentencing. Xiong said Lee took advantage of his position of power as a corrections officer, and the assault has impacted her ability to engage with the rehabilitative community at the facility.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"scaip scaip-3    \">\n\t\t<\/aside>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe preyed on my vulnerability for wanting to be accepted and loved,\u201d Xiong said. \u201cI lived in turmoil between being okay when I was not \u2026 I endured countless moments of humiliation and shame for who I am \u2014 and made to be a source of entertainment in my environment, because of this situation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During Thursday\u2019s hearing, Clark said\u00a0 Lee has allegedly led victims to believe he was pursuing a romantic relationship with them. Under state <a href=\"https:\/\/oig.justice.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/archive\/special\/0504\/index.htm\">law<\/a>, incarcerated individuals cannot legally consent to sexual conduct with a corrections officer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe took advantage of the fact they were in custody with limited opportunity for romantic involvement from other males while in prison,\u201d Clark said. \u201cHe made promises of assistance when released from prison, told them that they were in monogamous relationships and that he loved them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lee spoke on his behalf at the conclusion of the sentencing. He said he would accept the sentence he received, and apologized to the victims.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI would like to apologize to the victims in this case,\u201d Lee said. \u201cI had no intention of causing any harm or (upset) \u2026 I went about this like a child.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"scaip scaip-4    \">\n\t\t<\/aside>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prior to Lee\u2019s final sentencing, Clark added a statement on behalf of the victims who did not provide victim impact statements. Despite the charges brought against Lee, Clark said Lee\u2019s victims and women at WHV are not asking for Lee\u2019s imprisonment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c(The state) took into consideration the defendant\u2019s youth, his last criminal experience and the fact that although all the victims in this case wanted to hold him accountable, they did not want to see him serve in prison for his crime,\u201d Clark said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the final remarks before sentencing, Xiong said she hopes for accountability moving forward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI have never wanted to blend into the walls around me more seamlessly,\u201d Xiong said. \u201cThis has been a really terrible, traumatic and lonely journey full of pain for me. All I want is for (Lee) to take accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Summer News Editor Kylie Harmala can be reached at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.michigandaily.com\/news\/ann-arbor\/former-whv-correctional-officer-sentenced-after-guilty-plea-community-advocates-continue-to-emphasize-incarceration-reform\/mailto:kharmala@umich.edu\"><em>kharmala@umich.edu<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<aside class=\"scaip scaip-5    \">\n\t\t<\/aside>\n<aside>\n\t\t<\/aside>\n<p><h3 class=\"jp-relatedposts-headline\"><em>Related articles<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Content warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault.\u00a0 Joshua Lee, former corrections officer at Women\u2019s Huron Valley Correctional Facility, was sentenced to 18 months to 15 years in prison with eligibility for parole eligibility Thursday morning. Lee pled guilty to one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a state prisoner at the 22nd [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5555,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[2758,3599,4093,4960,2878,4959],"class_list":["post-5554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","tag-correctional","tag-guilty","tag-officer","tag-plea","tag-sentenced","tag-whv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5554"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5554\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5556,"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5554\/revisions\/5556"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5555"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5554"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5554"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmbglobal.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}