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CO out on bail while awaiting grand jury action for alleged sex abuse of child

By WKTV News

Story Created: May 23, 2011 at 10:01 AM EDT

Story Updated: May 23, 2011 at 3:43 PM EDT

FLOYD, N.Y. (WKTV) - A corrections officer at the Mohawk Correctional Facility in Rome has been charged for alleged sexual abuse of a child.

According to the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center, Donald Hughes Jr, 50, of Floyd, is alleged to have had sexual contact with a child under the age of 11 from 2010 to 2011.

Hughes is currently charged with first-degree sexual abuse and is currently out on bail while his case awaits grand jury action.

Hughes has been employed by the State Department of Corrections for more than 21 years.

The New York State Department of Corrections says Hughes is still listed as employed at the Mohawk Correctional Facility, but was suspended without pay on May 7, 2011 following the arrest.

The length of that suspension is determinant of the outcome of the criminal charges, state officials said. If the criminal charges result in a felony conviction, than Hughes would be automatically terminated from the position.

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