Former Federal Correctional Officer Indicted For Sexual Abuse Of An Inmate

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lenton Jerome Hatten, 54, of Tallahassee, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with one count of sexual abuse of an individual in federal custody. The indictment was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Hatten made his initial appearance in federal court to face the charge this afternoon.

The indictment alleges that, between October 2021, and August 2022, Hatten engaged in sexual acts with an inmate while employed as a sports specialist for the Bureau of Prisons.

Trial for Hatten is set for June 5, 2023, at 8:15 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before the Honorable Senior United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle. 

If convicted, Hatten faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, 5 years to Life on supervised release, and a maximum $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.