A former correctional officer is facing a felony charge after police say he made sexual advances on female inmates he supervised at Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail.
Newport News Police arrested 63-year-old Henry Rhim of Newport News on Oct. 12, according to James City County Police spokeswoman Stephanie Williams. Rhim is facing a felony charge of carnal knowledge of a prisoner by a correctional officer after two women told investigators he made them perform sex acts while under his supervision at the jail.
In August, a female inmate told a James City County Police investigator that Rhim, a recently retired correctional officer, “made sexual advances, statements and touched her on different occasions” while she was working in the jail’s laundry room, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Williamsburg-James City County General District Court.
Court documents state the woman told the investigator Rhim would make statements to her such as “you’re looking good today” and “I’m going to make yo[u] my woman when you get out of here.”
She told police that on one occasion she was in the laundry storage room and Rhim came up behind her, put his hand on her waist and then reached down the back of her pants to touch her genitals. She told police Rhim touched her genitals multiple times, once after calling her into his office.
“The victim then stated Officer Rhim brought her into his office and told her if she told anyone about what he had done they would not believe her because he had worked for the jail a long time and had never gotten into any trouble,” the complaint reads.
The female inmate went on to tell the investigator that Rhim brought her and another female inmate into a back laundry room together and had them remove their uniform pants and underwear, court documents state.
She said that once their uniforms were off, Rhim “made them” touch themselves in front of him, which they did. Investigators interviewed the second female inmate, who corroborated the story, documents state.
According to the Virginia Code, having “carnal knowledge” with an inmate while having a position of authority over the inmate is considered a Class 6 felony. A Class 6 felony is punishable by one to five years in prison, or up to 12 months in jail and/or a $2,500 fine at the jury or judge’s discretion.
Rhim is scheduled to appear in Williamsburg-James City County General District Court at 9:31 a.m. Oct. 19.
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated James City County Police arrested Rhim. He was arrested by Newport News Police on warrants issued by James City County Police.
