CYA Inmates Attack Female Counselor

A female correctional counselor at the state juvenile prison in Camarillo was attacked Tuesday afternoon by two male inmates, prison officials said.

The counselor, whose name was not released, was punched several times and received several bruises, prison officials said. She was treated at a medical clinic in Oxnard and sent home for the day, officials said.

It was unclear when the woman would return to work, said California Youth Authority spokeswoman Cynthia Brown.

The inmates, two 18-year-old men, were immediately placed in solitary confinement, Brown said. Prison officials refused to release the identities of the suspects or to say why the men are serving time.

Prison officials plan to ask prosecutors to file felony assault charges against the men, which, if they are convicted, could send them to an adult state prison.

“An assault is very serious,” Brown said.

The incident occurred about 3:15 p.m. as a group of juvenile inmates were being led back to their dormitory rooms by the counselor after school classes, Brown said.

The assailants stopped beating the counselor when a second female counselor ordered them to, Brown said.