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More Charges Surface in Delaware Department of Correction Scandal

Department of Correction website

There are new claims of abuse within the Delaware Department of Corrections.

Back in April television station 47 ABC reported on the death of an inmate at Sussex Correctional Institution.

In May a civil lawsuit was filed accusing Dr. Lawrence McDonald of sexually assault at least nine patients in prison.

Now, the TV station reports that Josh Lewis, a former inmate at the facility, is accusing the doctor of fondling him.

He also said that while at the Sussex Violation of Probation Center he and other prisoners were maced after inmates spilled water on the newly-waxed floors.

He said their cells were flooded and the prisoners were shackled outside.

Lewis has spent a third of his life behind bars and is part of the lawsuit.

Department of Corrections Commissioner Robert Coupe would not comment on the ongoing investigation for the television station.

When asked by the station if prisoners were being abused Coupe replied no, then but added that on occasion he knew there were some officers that have and when it comes to his attention action is taken.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.