Judge dismisses suit
By Helen Altonn
claiming guard had sex
with prisoners
Star-Bulletin1996 suit alleging that a male prison guard had sex with a female inmate in custody and with another on the day of her release has been dismissed.
The suit alleged that Wayne Salangsang, an adult corrections officer, violated the civil rights of Tina Hunley and Lisa Haas.
The two woman also named as defendants the state and John Kellam, Women's Community Correctional Center administrator.
They alleged the state failed to properly train its employees and that Kellam failed to implement state policies.
U.S. Magistrate Barry Kurren dismissed the suit last month, citing the plaintiffs' failure to appear and prosecute their case.
Ronald Shigekane, Salangsang's attorney, said the plaintiffs failed to respond to requests for information. He said one left the state and the other is in prison.
He said he believed that Salangsang would have prevailed if the case had gone to court.
But Myles Breiner, who represented the two women at the time they filed the suit, said the suit was valid and he stood by their allegations.
Breiner withdrew as counsel in January, saying he was unable to communicate with his clients.
He said the circumstances of their confinement and release made it difficult to proceed. He also emphasized that the court dismissed the suit, but didn't acquit Salangsang.
Salangsang said he knew both women well, but didn't have sex with either.
He said he "went through hell" after the women filed their suit, saying he was ridiculed and lost friends.
Salangsang said he believed the suit stemmed from a complaint he filed in August 1995 with his department in which he described inappropriate actions of authorities at the women's prison.
He said he believed the authorities pressured the two women inmates to say he had violated their rights by having sex with them earlier that year.
Chuck Nation, civil rights compliance officer for the state Department of Public Safety, declined comment on details of the case.
"This entire matter, which is quite complicated, is under review," he said.
In the suit, Hunley alleged that Salangsang had sex with her throughout her incarceration and after she was released to a halfway house, a period from February 1995 to May 1996. She also alleged that he said he loved her and wanted a permanent relationship.
Haas alleged in the suit that Salangsang gave her gifts in prison for about two months, ending April 24, 1995, when she was released. She alleged he called her that day, took her out and had sex with her, violating prison policies.
Salangsang said the state in March 1997 declined to represent him in the suit, filed Nov. 27, 1996. The United Public Workers Union used arbitration to get him an attorney, he said.
He said the department promoted him from sergeant to lieutenant and transferred him last year to Maui Community Correctional Center. But he also said he remains under doctor's care and on sick leave without pay from the stress of dealing with the suit.
