Former Arkansas prison chaplain charged with 50 counts of sexual assault for sex with inmates

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A former prison chaplain at an Arkansas women's prison is charged with sexually assaulting three inmates.

Prosecutor Henry Boyce announced Thursday that 50 counts of sexual assault charges had been filed against 67-year-old Kenneth Dewitt. The charging documents allege that DeWitt carried on sexual relationships with three inmates between 2013 and 2014.

Jeff Rosenzweig, an attorney representing Dewitt, says he is making arrangements to turn himself in to authorities.

Arkansas Department of Correction officials said two inmates at the McPherson Unit in Newport, about 90 miles northeast of Little Rock, notified prison staff in December 2014 that they had been in sexual relationships with Dewitt. Department spokeswoman Cathy Frye says staff notified Arkansas State Police immediately.

A separate federal investigation into complaints of sexual harassment at McPherson is ongoing.