Female prison worker attacked
- Police question convicted sex criminal; state won't release counselor's condition.
By JEFF MURRAY
Star-Gazette
jmurray@stargazette.com
An inmate serving 25 to 50 years for attempted murder and rape assaulted a female counselor Monday morning at the Elmira Correctional Facility, and she was hospitalized after the attack, police and state correction officials said.

The injured counselor was transported to Elmira's Arnot Ogden Medical Center, but federal law prevents the state Department of Correctional Services from disclosing her identity, condition or injuries, department spokesman James Flateau said.

The inmate accused in the attack at the maximum-security state prison is Alton Hutchinson, who will be 40 Friday. He has been in the state prison system since 1993, according to Correctional Services.

Hutchinson was questioned by New York State Police from the Horseheads barracks and state prison investigators. Charges are pending, police said.

Hutchinson is serving a 1993 Erie County sentence for attempted second-degree murder, first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and second-degree assault.

According to state officials, Hutchinson was scheduled for a routine quarterly review Monday morning with the counselor in her office in the Shop 5 building.

At 9:20 a.m., the correction officer assigned to the area noted the office door was closed and the lights were off. The officer returned to the office when he learned from staff that the counselor was supposed to be in the office.

The officer entered the unlocked office and saw the counselor on the floor behind a desk with the inmate on top of her. When the officer pulled the inmate away, the suspect jumped up, broke free and ran from the Shop 5 building.

Hutchinson was taken into custody a few minutes later, 150 yards away on the second floor of the building housing mental health offices, the state said.

Correction officials are investigating whether a sexual assault occurred.

It is standard procedure for correction officers to remain outside the door while counselors meet with inmates, Flateau said.

He declined to comment on what security procedures are in place to protect civilian employees during inmate visits, or whether those procedures were followed.

Representatives of the unions that represent the counselor and the correction officers were unavailable for comment Monday.

While in prison, Hutchinson has been found guilty of nearly two dozen infractions, including illegal drug use, assaulting inmates, possessing weapons, refusing orders, possessing contraband and violent conduct, according to the state.