Authorities investigating possible rape of female inmate

Authorities investigating possible rape of female inmate<br><br>(Purcell-AP) -- McClain County authorities are investigating allegations that a female inmate at the Purcell jail was raped by a male trustee.

Thursday, July 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Authorities investigating possible rape of female inmate

(Purcell-AP) -- McClain County authorities are investigating allegations that a female inmate at the Purcell jail was raped by a male trustee.

Sheriff Don Hewett says the 27-year-old woman said she was raped in the jail's shower area Tuesday morning. Authorities say the woman was allowed into the showers by a jailer. When the jailer returned to escort the woman back to her cell, she told him she'd been raped.

Hewett says the jailer found the trustee hiding behind a curtain.

Hewett says the woman was the only female inmate at the time. She'd been unable to make a $2,000 dollar bail on a complaint of uttering a forged instrument.

The 25-year-old trustee is incarcerated on burglary and illegal drug charges. He was awaiting transfer to the state Corrections Department.