New York Prison Guard Accused of Rape Couldn't Be Fired Due to Union Protections

Key Facts at a Glance

• Six women are suing New York State for alleged sexual abuse by Pedro Norde

• Each plaintiff is seeking $20 million in damages

• Allegations span from 2007 to 2018 across multiple facilities

• The state tried to fire Norde in 2019 , but was blocked by an arbitrator

• Norde received $270,000 in back pay after his suspension was overturned

• He was transferred to a male prison after returning to work

• Norde has never been charged with a sex crime

• He plans to retire before the end of 2024

What Do the Women Allege Against Pedro Norde?

Six former female inmates are in various stages of litigation against New York State, each seeking $20 million in damages for alleged sexual abuse by correction officer Pedro Norde. The allegations span multiple facilities and years:

• Yaritza Colon's Allegations at Taconic

  Yaritza Colon alleges that in 2018, while incarcerated at Taconic Correctional Facility, Norde forced her to perform sexual favors. "Sometimes I couldn't even come out of my cell until I flashed him my breasts," Colon recalled in an interview with NBC New York.

• Bayview Facility Rape Allegations

  Another plaintiff, who requested anonymity due to the graphic nature of her allegations, says Norde raped her on three occasions late at night in 2007 and 2008 while she was housed in the now-shuttered Bayview Correctional Facility. She described his pattern: "He would come to my door and just let himself in my room. And the standard thing was, 'get up against the wall.' And we all know what happens after 'get up against the wall.'"

• Federal Lawsuit Filed in 2020

  A third plaintiff, referred to in court documents as Jane Stone #3, filed a federal lawsuit in 2020 alleging that "Norde raped [her] more than twenty times and infected her with herpes" while she was also housed at Taconic women's facility. This former inmate said she filed a complaint against Norde under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), though it's unclear what became of that complaint.

What Is Pedro Norde's Response?

Norde's attorney, James Blenk, provided a written statement to NBC New York: "Mr. Norde denies many of the accusations below and specifically denies that he ever had inappropriate physical contact with an incarcerated individual."

Norde has never been charged with a sex crime and has not been subject to any administrative findings of sexual misconduct. He has denied the allegations in court filings.

Why Couldn't New York Fire Norde Despite Disciplinary Issues?

Pedro Norde's employment record reveals a pattern of disciplinary problems spanning two decades, yet union protections prevented his termination:

Documented Disciplinary History

• 2002 and 2003: Disciplined for excessive tardiness and absenteeism

• 2012: Suspended after an arrest for allegedly violating an order of protection

• 2015: Suspended again after allegedly leaving an inmate unattended, allowing the prisoner to escape

• 2019: The department attempted to fire Norde after he was accused of inappropriate contact with a parolee

The Failed Termination Attempt

The most significant attempt to remove Norde came in 2019 when the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) tried to fire him for inappropriate contact with a parolee. However:

• An arbitrator blocked his termination

• After two years of appeals, Norde was permitted to return to work

• He collected more than $270,000 in back pay

Attorney Adam Slater, who represents six of the plaintiffs, expressed outrage at this outcome: "They knew as early as 2019 that he was doing things such as contacting former incarcerated women. He should have been removed for that. So the fact that four years later he was collecting that kind of money, or any money, is appalling."

Where Is Norde Working Now?

After returning from his most recent suspension, Norde was transferred to a male prison. According to his attorney, Norde anticipates retiring from the state prison system before the end of 2024.

How Widespread Is the Problem in New York's Female Prisons?

The plaintiffs' lawsuits allege that New York's Department of Corrections and Community Supervision knew of a "widespread, pervasive, and ongoing sexual abuse problem in every female prison that was part of its correctional system."

The women argue that better supervision of Norde could have led to his termination before the alleged abuse occurred or continued. Their attorney, Adam Slater, points to Norde's disciplinary record as evidence that warning signs were ignored.

What Does the State Say About These Allegations?

A DOCCS spokesperson told NBC New York that state prison officials have "zero tolerance for violence, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and unauthorized relationships" and emphasized that "The Department thoroughly investigates all reports of misconduct."

The department also suggested that its attempt to fire Norde in 2019, though blocked by labor union protections, demonstrates that prison managers were trying to take affirmative action to protect female inmates.

NBC New York reached out to NYSCOPBA, the union that represents uniformed state correction officers, but did not receive an immediate response.

The Personal Impact of Alleged Abuse

For Yaritza Colon, the impact of the alleged abuse extends beyond her time in prison. She had a direct message for the correction officer she accuses of sexual abuse: "If you have daughters, they should be ashamed of you. If you have a wife, I don't even know how she allows you to touch her, knowing what you are doing at work."

The cases against Norde highlight a troubling pattern where documented misconduct and attempted termination were insufficient to remove an officer from a position of power over vulnerable incarcerated women. With six women now pursuing litigation and allegations spanning from 2007 to 2018 across multiple facilities, the lawsuits raise serious questions about the effectiveness of oversight and the power of union protections in cases involving alleged sexual abuse.

As Norde approaches retirement, the women he allegedly abused continue their legal battle, each seeking $20 million in damages from a state they say failed to protect them from a guard with a documented history of misconduct.