Two Westchester correction officers arrested this week are accused of aiding inmates with whom they had relationships and possessing cell phones inside a secure area of the county jail where the phones are prohibited.
Diamond Davis and Kimesha Foster each pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of official misconduct and second-degree promoting prison contraband Thursday, Oct. 1, at their arraignment in Mount Pleasant Town Court.
They were taken into custody at the jail Monday by investigators for the Westchester District Attorney's Office but officials did not say anything about the nature of their alleged crimes.
According to the criminal complaints filed in court, both women are accused of having cell phones on Monday in an area of the jail
where phones are prohibited because inmates are present.
Davis, 33, is also accused of passing messages between inmates over a five-week period early this year and taking paperwork from inmates and passing it along to their relatives.
Foster, 47, allegedly let an inmate know in March when he was being transferred to a federal detention facility. Details of inmate transports are not provided in advance because it could put the transporting officers in jeopardy.
The official misconduct charge alleges that the two officers benefited from their behavior because they were each in a "personal relationship" with an inmate they assisted.
The president of the Westchester Correction Officers Benevolent Association, Steven Torsiello, was in court along with other correction officers. Earlier, he issued a statement saying that Davis and Foster have served with honor and urging the public "not to rush to judgment."
After the arraignment, defense lawyer Pat Bonanno said neither officer has previously faced similar allegations and that he expected further investigation by the DA's Office would make clear that Davis and Foster had not intended to commit crimes.
"At the end of the day we're confident that these officers will come out with the stellar record that they have now," he said.
The charges in the case are not bail eligible so the officers remain free until their next court appearance, which Judge Mark Rubeo scheduled for Nov. 5.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: 2 Westchester correction officers arraigned for misconduct, contraband
