GALVESTON, Texas – Two former Texas Department of Criminal Justice correctional officers have been arrested following an investigation into sexual misconduct involving two female inmates at Hospital Galveston.
Kenneth McDaniel Jr. and Kamron Kirk were taken into custody June 18, 2026, and booked into the Galveston County Jail. Both are charged with Civil Rights Violation/Improper Sexual Activity with Person in Custody, a second-degree felony. Both men were terminated from TDCJ following the conclusion of an administrative investigation.
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According to TDCJ, The Office of Inspector General launched the criminal investigation after a female inmate reported to TDCJ staff that she had been sexually assaulted by two correctional officers during her time at the facility. The investigation identified McDaniel and Kirk as suspects.
TDCJ Executive Director Bobby Lumpkin said the agency has zero tolerance for this type of misconduct.
“We will not tolerate people in positions of power using their authority to abuse those in their care. The agency maintains a zero-tolerance policy for officer misconduct, and we hold those responsible fully accountable under the law,” Lumpkin said.
Inspector General Lance Coleman praised the law enforcement partners who helped make the arrests possible.
“We are grateful for the vital support provided by the U.S. Marshals Service in Galveston County and our local law enforcement partners in arresting these individuals and bringing them to justice,” Coleman said.
TDCJ says the security and safety of the incarcerated population and staff is its top priority. The agency states that all claims of sexual assault are taken seriously and immediately investigated. Agency policy prohibits male officers from being alone with individual female inmates and bans cross-gender unclothed searches.
Attorney Dick Deguerin, who represents both female inmates, released the following statement:
“No matter what you think someone is convicted of, they’re not sentenced to be tortured and sexually abused. It’s high time something was done about it.”