A former guard who worked at the Essex County Jail in Newark has been convicted on charges of raping a female inmate.

According to federal officials, the 42-year-old suspect was on duty as a guard at the Essex County Correctional Facility when he forcibly had sexual intercourse with the victim. The sex crime occurred while the suspect the overnight shift of December 27-28, 2010.

During the trial in federal court, prosecutors alleged that the suspect offered various rewards to inmates in exchange for sex. For example, the suspect reportedly offered to provide cigarettes to one female inmate if she would agree to have sex with him.

The rape victim testified during trial that the suspect flashed a flashlight at her and then communicated with her via the jail’s intercom system. He later walked into her jail cell while she was sleeping and sexually assaulted her. The suspect pulled down the victim’s sweatpants and underwear and then held her down while having sex with her.

During the attack, the victim was frozen and could not scream out for help. She later reported the assault to authorities at the jail.

The suspect was also accused of trying to cover up the rape after the fact. He talked to investigators and reportedly denied having entered the victim’s cell on the night of the sexual assault.

Police eventually placed the suspect under arrest and charged him with sexual assault and obstruction of justice.

Now that the suspect has been convicted, he faces a potential sentence of life in federal prison. He will have to return to U.S. District Court in Newark at a later date for a formal sentencing hearing.

For further information about this case, view the NJ.com article, “Former N.J. Prison Guard Convicted of Raping Inmate.”