James Baldinger, 51, of Minnesota, and a transport officer
with the Prisoner Transportation Services of America (PTS), appeared in federal
court today in Duluth, Minnesota, after a federal grand jury sitting in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, indicted him on charges related to his sexual assaults
of a female in his custody, and using his firearm in furtherance of those
assaults.
Counts One and Two of the indictment charge Baldinger with
committing civil rights offenses that resulted in bodily injury, including
aggravated sexual abuse and the use of a deadly weapon. Count Three charges
Baldinger with knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of these crimes of
violence.
Baldinger faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted of
the crimes charged, and a mandatory minimum of five years in prison for
possession of the firearm.
An indictment is merely a formal accusation of criminal
conduct, and Baldinger is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Albuquerque Division
of the FBI in cooperation with the New Mexico State Police. It is being
prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shaheen Torgoley of the District
of New Mexico, and Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold and Trial Attorney
Maura White of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S.
Department of Justice.
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