I-Team: Rikers Guard Under Investigation Over Sex Assault Allegation, Facebook Posts

By Sarah Wallace

A Rikers Island correction officer accused in a lawsuit of grabbing an inmate’s genitals is now also under investigation for social media posts where he called himself and other guards "the wrecking crew" and wrote about "that look of fear" in "gangsters eyes," the I-Team has learned.

A Department of Correction source told the I-Team that correction officer Michael Sinacore has been reassigned to an area where he has no inmate contact in light of the posts and a $6 million lawsuit filed by 31-year-old Justin Kuchma following an altercation at a jail facility earlier this year. Both matters are under investigation, the DOC said.

"He goes in on him, starts calling him the N-word, names beyond belief," he said.

"He grabs me by my collar, throws me face first against the wall, starts kicking my shins," he said. "He's grabbing my genitals."

"(He said), 'You know, don’t worry, I know where there are no cameras, I’ll get you again,'" Kuchma said.

The Department of Investigation, meanwhile, said that it is investigating a number of cases involving allegations of sexual abuse at city jails.

A separate Correction Department investigation was also launched after social media comments and photos were later posted on Sinacore’s accounts.

"Me and you know both how many REAL tough mother f------ there were and are left," the comment stated. "And we both know that look of fear that was put into these b---- a-- gangsters eyes when things were in order."

The DOC said it has a strict social media policy that requires that employees who identify themselves by rank, title, work location, uniform or any other means, must make it clear through the use of a disclaimer that their statements and views do not reflect the views of the Department. Otherwise, such statements may be interpreted as official statements by the DOC.