Prison counselor in intensive care, police say
Inmate not charged yet after assault at Elmira Correctional Facility.
By SALLE E. RICHARDS
Star-Gazette
srichards@stargazette.com
An Elmira Correctional Facility counselor remained hospitalized Tuesday in an intensive-care unit while state police continue to develop a case against the inmate accused of attacking her Monday.

No charges have been filed yet against Alton Hutchinson, 35, who is serving 25 to 50 years for attempted murder and rape. He was interrogated by state police and state prison investigators Monday and then moved to a special housing unit at Southport Correctional Facility.

The victim, whom police have not identified, was transported to Arnot Ogden Medical Center.

The assault on the counselor was discovered about 9:20 a.m. Monday when a correction officer assigned to the office area where the counselor worked noticed that the door to her office was closed and the lights were off although the counselor was scheduled to be there.

After entering the unlocked office, the officer saw the counselor on the floor behind a desk with an inmate on top of her. He pulled the inmate off the woman and the inmate ran away, according to a news release from state Department of Correctional Services.

The inmate was captured a few minutes later, the news release said.

State Police Investigator Jeffrey Gotschall said Tuesday that he had not yet interviewed the victim. He said he was unsure of the victim's condition because the hospital would not release the information, but he said she was being treated in the intensive-care unit at Arnot Ogden.

Gotschall said evidence from the scene, including clothing, was collected and sent to a state police crime lab. The examination of that evidence should reveal whether the counselor was sexually assaulted, Gotschall said.

Gotschall said the next step when the investigation is complete will be to present it to Chemung County District Attorney John Trice.

Trice said Tuesday he did not have details about the case, nor did he know how seriously the counselor was injured.

When he reviews the case with investigators, Trice said they will decide together what charges should be filed.

Trice said he expects to review the evidence by the end of the week or next week, depending on the lab results and the condition of the victim.