According to Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Whitehall man based upon an investigation regarding possible jail contraband.  

During that investigation, information was revealed related to possible incidents of sexual contact between a female inmate and a part-time, male corrections officer. Sheriff’s Investigators confirmed the information through both inmate and staff interviews. The case was then presented to a Grand Jury.

As a result of the Grand Jury proceedings, an indictment was handed down and the Sheriff’s Office arrested Brandon M. Donaldson. He was charged with two counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, class E felonies. By law, inmates cannot legally consent to any type of sexual conduct with an employee of a correctional facility.

Donaldson, who had been a part-time corrections officer for two years, has been terminated from employment. Both the inmate and the defendant cooperated in the investigation. Donaldson was arraigned in County Court and ROR’d.