The irrational hysteria over child molesters has become so extreme that it's being manipulated by prison guards. If the guards have a prisoner they don't like, they spread the word that he's a dread child molester in the hope that other prisoners will beat him or kill him. Jonathan B. Eichelman was the victim of just such a scheme. Although innocent of an offense, Mr. Eichelman was locked up in the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania jail. Before he could win his release, he was repeatedly and savagely beaten by other prisoners. He filed a "federal suit against the jail's warden, Vincent Guarini, and ten guards saying that they caused the savage assaults and used the prisoners as cat's-paws for torture. The guards spread the lie that Mr. Eichelman was a child molester. It's a common practice for Pennsylvania prison guards and staff to get prisoners to do their dirty work. Guards who are afraid to torture or assault on their own, frequently manipulate violent or mentally deranged prisoners to do it for them. In many Pennsylvania prisons the guards are cowards. Their position of authority allows them to induce one prison (or more often a gang of prisoners) to beat another prisoner. Just as frequently, the guards use their positions to have vulnerable prisoners extorted, intimidated or forced into sex. Mr. Eichelman is certainly not alone in having been victimized by the staff at the Lancaster County jail. It has a black reputation of abuses, mismanagement and violence. Rebecca's Bargain Antiques Collectible Vintage Photos Fine Prints - Old Maps Sheet Music - Old Books Elegant Antiques and Collectibles "I have mixed feelings about rape" Michael Bates in Bedazzled, 1967 You are welcome to use or republish any of our material. Please give www.prisoners.com credit as the source. Return to the Crime Stories Menu Return to the Prison Rape and Sex Menu Return to the Main Menu. Go to our site's Search Engine Send us Your Comments or Input.