LATROBE, Pa. — A former Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputy has been arrested after a lengthy police investigation into allegations that he was sexually inappropriate with female inmates while he was on duty, officials said.
Daniel Gradischek, 32, is accused of bribing the inmates with tobacco products in exchange for sexual related favors over the past decade. He is facing several charges, including institutional sex assault and bribery.
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Gradischek told investigators four or five women touched him over his clothes and others would expose themselves, according to police.
Investigators said all of the inmates were being held at the Westmoreland County Prison, but the encounters allegedly occurred in prisoner transport vans, holding cells at the court house and medical facilities.
Police interviewed two female inmates who corroborated Gradischek’s account.
Gradischek’s attorney Mike Ferguson tells Channel 11 he’s in the process of reviewing the allegations and that Gradischek has cooperated, saying "He’s a guy who has never been in trouble in his life. We are looking forward to a reasonable resolution of the case,
Gradischek is free on $50,000 bond and faces a preliminary hearing on January 31.
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