Long Island jail guard sentenced to 18 months, allowed to quit after sexual abuse plea

Jason Middleton, a 37-year-old corrections officer at Riverhead Correctional Facility, pleaded guilty to a criminal sexual act and official misconduct after coercing a female inmate into oral sex between June and August 2023. Prosecutors said he exploited a blind spot in the jail’s camera coverage, threatened to plant contraband, and repeatedly abused his authority. Though the statutory maximum was up to five years combined, a plea deal limited his punishment to 18 months in prison and permitted him to resign rather than be formally terminated.

He will also be placed on the sex-offender registry, with a risk assessment scheduled for next summer. Because he had served fewer than five years, he was not eligible for a pension, but the resignation may still confer some advantage. Authorities noted that most correction officers perform their duties honorably, but this case underscores the need for vigilant oversight. It remains unclear whether Middleton will serve his time at the Riverhead facility or the county jail in Yaphank.