Teen molested in jail's 'blind spot'

By THOMAS LAKE
Published April 11, 2007

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NEW PORT RICHEY - The day room has places that the cameras cannot see.

Blind spots.

He was 16.

He was in jail, waiting to be sentenced on a burglary charge. It was Sunday afternoon.

A deputy was in earshot.

But authorities say the boy never screamed.

They're not sure how many inmates were in the day room then. As many as eight. As few as three.

The boy was bruised and afraid.

Blindfolded with a sock.

And forced to perform oral sex on another male inmate.

Jail officials didn't find out until nearly six hours later, when a witness came forward to report the abuse. An investigation ensued. Nicolas E. Robinson, 17, was arrested Tuesday morning on a charge of sexual battery.

Robinson's history of violence dates to age 13, according to state records, when he was charged with aggravated battery.

Like the victim, he was being held at the Pasco County jail in New Port Richey - rather than at a juvenile detention center - because he had been charged as an adult. His most recent charges were battery and auto theft.

Michael Mushlin, a professor who specializes in prisoners' rights at Pace Law School in White Plains, N.Y., said jail officials should keep better watch.

"To have an area where there's no physical presence and there's no way of observing it is just horrible," he said. "This man could be scarred for life."

Doug Tobin, a spokesman for the sheriff, said the incident could have happened at any jail.

He said staffing levels meet state and national standards.

You can't have a detention deputy for every inmate, he said.

Tobin said things might have turned out differently if the victim had yelled for help.

But he would not say if anyone has plans to make the blind spots disappear.

Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Thomas Lake can be reached at tlake@sptimes.com or 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6245.