Two former correctional officers were arrested Thursday and accused of sexually abusing female inmates receiving treatment at Hospital Galveston, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. A public information officer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice stands near the TDCJ Hospital Galveston in 2009. Johnny Hanson/Houston Chronicle

Two men were arrested Thursday and accused of abusing two female inmates who were being cared for at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's hospital in Galveston.

Kenneth McDaniel Jr. and Kamron Kirk are both charged with second-degree felony charges of improper sexual activity with a person in custody, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The civil rights violation charges carry a potential punishment of between two and 20 years in prison.

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Both men were investigated by TDCJ's Office of Inspector General after a woman complained that she was sexually assaulted by two correctional officers during her time at the facility, the agency said in a media release.

The alleged assaults were reported to the agency in March, according to Houston Public Media.

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The complaint led investigators to McDaniel and Kirk, who worked as correctional officers at the hospital. Both men were placed on leave in April amid the investigation and have since been fired, according to TDCJ.

No other details have been released about the allegations.


McDaniel, 34, was being held on $125,000 bond at the Galveston County Jail as of Friday morning. Kirk was not listed as being in custody.

Court records related to the charges were not immediately available. It was unclear if either man had an attorney.

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