BANGOR (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- A Bangor Daily News article which came to light Monday morning describes a culture of cover-up within the Penobscot County Jail.
Steven Buzzell, a former Penobscot County Jail guard, has been accused of sending explicit messages and lewd photos to female inmates, employees, and volunteers at the facility.
The sexual harassment stayed secret and raved rampant for years, until now.
Roughly half a dozen women have described receiving unwanted and unsolicited texts and Facebook messages from Buzzell over a dozen years, according to that Bangor Daily News article.
Some of Buzzell's victims were inmates, with limited resources and freedom, while others were volunteers at the jail.
The victims all have two things in common, though: all of the messages they received were of a sexual nature and all of them were afraid to report him.
It wasn't until another correctional officer confided in the jail's human resources director that word finally got out about Buzzell's inappropriate behavior.
Penobscot County Commissioners, who are responsible for oversight of county government including the sheriff's department and the jail, were informed.
They called for an investigation to be launched by the sheriff's department.
Now, they're working to make sure something like this doesn't happen in their jail again.
"That was certainly what was troubling was to see that people felt they couldn't, even though they thought [Buzzell's behavior] might've been wrong, they didn't feel they could talk to anybody about it," said Chairman of the Penobscot County Commissioners, Peter Baldacci. "So that's what we really have to work on is to make sure that if they see something that is inappropriate, wrong, they need to let their supervisors and superiors know. They need to report it and they'll be protected. Speak out when things happen that are clearly wrong."
The Penobscot County Sheriff's Department began an internal investigation into then-Corporal Buzzell after learning of these allegations, but he resigned at the end of June before the investigation was complete.
Two additional sheriff's department employees were demoted as a result of that investigation.
They have not appealed that decision.
In light of additional accusations against Buzzell, Baldacci said the sheriff's department will launch another investigation to re-interview victims and witnesses about these new allegations.
It's unclear whether any charges, civil or criminal, will be brought against Buzzell as a result of these investigations.