SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Investigations at California’s largest prison for women into sexual abuse and assault claims are continuing, and the acting warden who oversaw a probe that identified at least 22 potential victims has been moved out of the prison.
Acting Warden Mike Pallares, who referred the case to the Madera County district attorney for prosecution, has been accused of misconduct in two previous lawsuits and by a current inmate. He no longer works at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, where the scandal spilled into the open in late December.
“We thank him for his time and work at the institution in his acting capacity,” California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokeswoman Dana Simas wrote in an email to The Sacramento Bee. “He is taking on Associate Warden responsibilities in CDCR.”
