A Rikers Island doctor was charged with sexually abusing a female inmate, authorities said Wednesday.
Dr. Frank Leveille, a 12-year employee at the jail, was arrested in the early morning hours on two charges of sexual misconduct.
Leveille, a 70-dollar-an-hour doctor who worked with female inmates, is an employee of Prison Health Services, a private company that handles medical care at Rikers.
“The physician is charged with... violating his fundamental professional responsibility,” said Department of Investigation Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn.
A prison spokesperson declined comment and Leveille's attorney did not immediately return a call for comment.
A female inmate alleges the sexual abuse occurred on March 28 at 2 a.m. New York law says it is illegal for a prison facility employee to have any sexual relations with an inmate.
Leveille’s arrest marks the second medical scandal at Rikers in as many weeks. Dr. Trevor Parks resigned on July 14th amid allegations he was not certified to provide medical care to prison inmates -- yet he was managing the health care of 12,000 inmates.
Critics charge Prison Health Services provides second-rate care in order to save money, the for-profit firm has a $123-million-dollar New York State contract.
A PHS spokesman did not return calls for comment.
Officials said Leveille also works as a family specialist at Brooklyn Medical Plaza. A woman who answered the phone there declined to comment.
Leveille is charged with third degree sexual abuse and a third degree criminal sexual act. The doctor faces more than four years in prison himself, if convicted.
