Two Ex-Prison Guards Arrested for Sexually Assaulting Female Inmates at Texas Medical Facility

Months-Long Investigation Ends in Felony Arrests

Two former Texas Department of Criminal Justice correctional officers were arrested Thursday on felony charges alleging sexual misconduct with female inmates at Hospital Galveston, according to the agency's Office of Inspector General. The arrests mark the culmination of an investigation that began with a single inmate's courage to speak up — and ultimately uncovered what authorities believe were multiple incidents of abuse by men entrusted with protecting the very people in their care.

Kenneth McDaniel Junior and Kamron Kirk, both formerly employed as correctional officers at the Galveston facility, were taken into custody and booked into the Galveston County Jail. Both men were transported and held on $125,000 bonds. Each faces a charge of Civil Rights Violation/Improper Sexual Activity with Person in Custody, a second-degree felony.

How the Case Unfolded

Officials said a female inmate first reported in March that she had been sexually assaulted by two correctional officers, with staff notified the same day, prompting an internal investigation. Shortly after, a second inmate came forward alleging she was assaulted in January — after learning about the March allegation. The second victim's decision to speak up proved pivotal in connecting both men to multiple incidents.

Investigators said the second inmate described two officers — one by physical description and the other by name — linking both officers to each of the reported incidents. McDaniel and Kirk were ultimately arrested by constable's deputies alongside officers from the Texas Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force at a residence. The arrests stemmed from what authorities described as a lengthy investigation by the Texas Office of Inspector General.

The Setting and the Alleged Victims

Hospital Galveston is a medical facility within the TDCJ system, where inmates are transported to receive treatment for serious health conditions. One victim's mother said her daughter was taken from the Lane Murray Unit in Gatesville, Texas to Hospital Galveston in February for neck surgery, and that while still groggy and sedated in recovery, two corrections officers entered her daughter's cell. The alleged attack, according to the family, occurred while the woman was in an extraordinarily vulnerable state.

TDCJ said it has policies in place intended to prevent this type of misconduct, including a rule that male officers are not to be left alone with a female inmate and a prohibition on cross-gendered unclothed searches. The allegations, if proven, would mean those policies were blatantly disregarded. TDCJ said the safety and security of incarcerated individuals and staff is the agency's top priority, and that all sexual assault claims are taken seriously and investigated immediately.

A Broader Problem Advocates Say Cannot Be Ignored

Dr. Amite Dominick, founder of Texas Prisons Community Advocates, said that "women who are incarcerated are oftentimes the forgotten, overlooked population within a system that throws individuals away," adding that they have "been subject to sexual abuse and harm for decades." Her words underscore a systemic concern that extends well beyond this single case.

TDCJ expressed gratitude for "the vital support provided by the U.S. Marshals Service in Galveston County and our local law enforcement partners in arresting these individuals and bringing them to justice," Inspector General Lance Coleman said in a statement. With felony charges now filed and both men in custody, the case will move through the courts — and advocates are watching closely, hoping it signals that abuse behind prison walls will no longer go unanswered.