LANSING – Former Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility Corrections Officer Joshua Lee, 22, of Wyandotte, was arraigned on October 30 before Magistrate Odetalla M. Odetalla in the 14A-2 District Court in Ypsilanti on four counts of Second-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct (State Prisoner), each a 15- year felony, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. It is alleged that Lee engaged in multiple sexual acts with several prisoners while working at the prison. This matter was referred to the Department of Attorney General by the Michigan State Police. 

“I want to thank both the Michigan Department of Corrections and the Michigan State Police for their swift action in investigating these allegations,” Nessel said. “Everyone deserves protection from sexual abuse, and Michigan has laws in place to keep people safe in our correctional facilities. My office will continue to hold accountable those who seek to use their positions of authority to abuse those under their care.”   

The allegations in this matter include acts of sexual penetration. Michigan law currently criminalizes sexual contact by corrections officers, but there is no statute specifically addressing sexual penetration. As a result, officers can be charged under Second-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct for contact and penetration offenses in the same way. Attorney General Nessel hopes the Michigan Legislature updates the law so that First and Third-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct statutes explicitly cover sexual penetration by corrections staff to better protect inmates and reflect the seriousness of these crimes.  

“Our laws should match the severity of the crime, and this type of alleged sexual misconduct by corrections staff is a serious violation,” Nessel continued. “Updating these statutes will strengthen protections for inmates and ensure that penalties appropriately match the offense.”

Lee will next appear before Judge J. Cedric Simpson in the 14A-1 District Court on November 6, 2025.

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