Cambria County corrections officer assaults inmate, detectives allege

EBENSBURG, Pa. — A corrections officer at Cambria County Prison in Ebensburg was charged Thursday with sexually assaulting a female inmate between Oct. 17 and 26, authorities said.

Cambria County detectives charged Matteson Lamar Speed, 37, of the 600 block of Ash Street, Johnstown, with one felony count of institutional sexual abuse.

According to an affidavit, the investigation began when three witnesses spoke to authorities.

Speed ​​allegedly had sex with the inmate in the staff toilet during one of his breaks. After reviewing surveillance footage and phone records, detectives determined the alleged incident occurred between Oct. 17 and Oct. 26, the affidavit said.

Speed ​​denied ever being alone with a female inmate before allegedly admitting to being alone with the inmate in the staff restroom, the affidavit said.

Speed ​​was arraigned by acting District Judge John Prebish of Cresson and released on a $25,000 unsecured bond.

A representative from Cambria County’s human resources department was not available Friday to discuss Speed’s employment.