A biological male who claimed to identify as transgender attacked a woman who was incarcerated at Rikers Island according to a new lawsuit.
The former prisoner is suing New York City, accusing jail staff of ignoring her warnings that the inmate was using a fake gender identity to gain access to the women’s facility in 2022.
“His introduction was, 'I’m not transgender. I’m straight. I like women,’" said the plaintiff, who is identified as Rose Doe.
According to documents provided by the plaintiff’s legal team to NBC New York, “shortly after the alleged perpetrator arrived in the female dorm, Doe complained to correctional staff, claiming the new detainee sexually propositioned her on April 4th and then groped her in the bathroom on April 6th.”
Her attorneys also have an email from Acting Warden of the Rose M. Singer Center (RMSC) Floyd Phipps, who noted the plaintiff’s concerns and said the transgender-identifying prisoner “is not a suitable fit for RMSC.”
However, the biological male remained in the female facility. Doe says the man sexually assaulted her while she was sleeping in her bed on April 7.
The NYC Department of Correction told Doe in a letter dated June 26, 2022 that there was insufficient evidence to determine if the rape occurred.
"When someone is claiming to be something they’re not it’s to the detriment of the entire community now, because it will cause concern," said Nicholas Liakas, the attorney representing Rose Doe. "Gender aside, when you have a clear danger it has to be removed and this is something where there were so many opportunities to step in and prevent a rape."
In November of 2022, New York City settled a lawsuit brought on behalf of a biological male who identified as a transgender woman but was housed in an all-male facility on Rikers Island. The inmate, who used the name Alyssa Rodriguez, was reportedly sexually assaulted twice while awaiting trial in 2018.
The city agreed to pay Rodriguez’s estate $1.4 million.
Another biological male who identifies as a transgender woman sued New York City for $22 million in August for damages stemming from the inmate’s treatment and alleged sexual assault at Rikers Island. The plaintiff in that case, who is known as Ali Miles or Dylan Miles, was housed in an all-male unit between June and July of 2022.
Miles was charged with felony-level stalking, making a false report of a crime and aggravated harassment among other crimes. Attorneys for Miles say the plaintiff was “placed in a men’s housing unit despite her objections, court orders, and her requests to be housed with women” and that prison officials “delayed and denied her access to healthcare,” per Fox News.
