STATE PRISON GUARDS WIN RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST INVESTIGATORS

SACRAMENTO - The state prison guards union has won a temporary restraining
order against investigators probing allegations that guards set up inmate
rapes at Corcoran State Prison.

Investigators from the state Attorney General's Office, the Department of
Corrections and the FBI are investigating allegations that Wayne Robertson,
a 6-foot-3-inch, 230-pound inmate nicknamed "Booty Bandit," raped a
120-pound inmate after guards prompted him.

He also is accused of sexually assaulting 15 inmates at Corcoran State
Prison between the late 1980s and mid-1990s, according to documents and
testimony at a recent legislative hearing. Robertson was never charged.

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Raymond Williamson granted the
restraining order Tuesday. The California Correctional Peace Officers
Association requested the order after state agents interviewed more than 20
prison officers last week, but barred union representatives or union
lawyers from accompanying them.

State agents said they didn't want to tip off potential criminal targets to
the investigation.

"The officers just know they are being treated like dogs," said Michael L.
Rains, a lawyer representing the union. "The Department of Corrections
folks were threatening witnesses."

Corcoran Warden George Galaza cited a state law in forcing officer
witnesses to cooperate with the investigation or be removed from their job
for insubordination, according to court documents.

The union argued that the lack of union representation was a denial of
fundamental rights. A Sept. 4 hearing was scheduled on the union's request
for a permanent injunction.

State authorities vowed the investigation would continue despite the court
order.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski