"After two mistrials, federal prosecutors have moved to dismiss sexual abuse charges against former FCI Dublin prison guard Darrell Wayne Smith, the last of 10 former employees to face charges in connection with abuse at the shuttered East Bay women's prison. But Smith's attorneys maintained throughout both trials that he'd been framed in the fallout of a federal investigation into systemic abuse at the prison, dubbed the "rape club" by incarcerated women and staff members."
"Victims of abuse at FCI Dublin have won major monetary settlements in two class-action suits against the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and some have been granted early release or asylum in the U.S. Jurors in his first trial said they split down the middle on whether he was guilty, in part due to a lack of concrete evidence. While his second jury told the judge in September that they also could not reach a consensus, a court observer said several male jurors wept."
Federal prosecutors moved to dismiss sexual-abuse charges against former FCI Dublin guard Darrell Wayne Smith after two mistrials, ending his prosecution as the last of ten former employees charged in connection with staff abuse at the prison. Nine other employees, including the warden, have been convicted or pleaded guilty. Victims secured major monetary settlements in two class-action suits against the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and some survivors obtained early release or asylum. Juries deadlocked twice in Smith’s trials amid claims of insufficient concrete evidence and defense allegations that he was framed during a federal probe of systemic abuse dubbed the "rape club." Advocates credit survivors' organizing with prompting reforms.
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