Atlantic County Corrections Officer, 24, Charged With Sexually Assaulting Woman Inside Jail Cell, Prosecutors Say

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP (ATLANTIC COUNTY) — A 24-year-old Atlantic County corrections officer is facing serious criminal charges after prosecutors say he walked into a jail cell and sexually assaulted a woman locked inside the county facility.

Sebastian Flores-Huamani, of Mays Landing, has been charged with second-degree sexual assault and second-degree official misconduct in connection with the alleged attack at the Atlantic County Justice Facility, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.

Officials say Flores-Huamani was employed as a correctional officer at the jail but resigned last month — before his arrest this week.

Prosecutors: Victim reported assault from inside the jail

According to county prosecutors, the case started on September 4, when administrators at the Atlantic County Jail contacted investigators after an incarcerated woman reported she had been sexually assaulted.

Investigators say Flores-Huamani is accused of entering the woman’s cell and assaulting her while he was on duty as an officer at the facility. The details of what allegedly happened inside the cell have not been publicly released, but the charges indicate prosecutors believe there was sexual contact obtained through abuse of official power.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation that stretched for roughly three months. On Tuesday, detectives arrested Flores-Huamani at his home in Mays Landing, authorities said.

A prior discipline record on the job

State records show this was not the first time Flores-Huamani’s conduct as a corrections officer drew official scrutiny.

According to the 2024 Attorney General’s Office Major Disciplinary Report, Flores-Huamani was previously suspended for 10 days for “neglect of duty” after he failed to perform a proper inmate headcount and then falsely indicated on a shift document that it had been completed.

That disciplinary case was administrative and separate from the current criminal charges. But it raises fresh questions about how complaints and red flags inside New Jersey lockups are tracked — and how long potential warning signs sit in personnel files before anyone outside the walls ever hears about them.

Atlantic County case lands in a state already on edge over corrections abuses

The charges land in a state that is already on edge over misconduct inside correctional facilities.

New Jersey has spent years dealing with the fallout from the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women scandal, where multiple officers were accused of beating and sexually abusing women behind bars — a case that sparked public outrage and promises of reform.

And just last year, state prosecutors filed criminal charges against two senior corrections officers at a juvenile facility in Bordentown — the Female Secure Care and Intake Facility, also known as the Hayes Unit — accusing them of repeatedly sexually assaulting an 18-year-old in their custody. Those officers, Gary Nieves and William Young, face multiple counts including second-degree sexual assault and official misconduct and are due back in court later this month.

Flores-Huamani’s case is separate, but it lands on top of that history. For families who already worry about what happens once a loved one is “safely” behind bars, yet another officer-involved sex assault case feels less like a headline and more like a pattern of failures in oversight and culture.

What happens next for the officer and the alleged victim?

Flores-Huamani now faces two second-degree charges — sexual assault and official misconduct — both of which can carry significant prison time if he is convicted. For now, he remains an accused defendant, not a convicted offender. The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until the state proves its case in court.

Prosecutors have not publicly disclosed details about the victim, citing privacy concerns for someone incarcerated and alleging sexual violence. Her report is what triggered the investigation in the first place, and the case will likely hinge on a mix of her account, any surveillance footage, officer logs, and internal jail documentation.

Officials ask for tips from anyone with information

Investigators say they want to know if there were other incidents, or witnesses who haven’t yet come forward.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7666 or submit a tip through the office’s online portal. Tips can also be shared with Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234, 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS), or via the Crime Stoppers website.

Even anonymous leads about officer behavior, unusual movement inside the housing units, or anything that might corroborate or contradict the timeline can become crucial in a case like this.

If you were harmed inside a New Jersey jail

If you or someone you know believes they were sexually assaulted or otherwise abused while in custody at a New Jersey jail or prison:

• You can report directly to the county prosecutor’s office where the facility is located.
• You can also reach out to Crime Stoppers or a civil rights attorney to preserve your rights and any potential claims.
• Survivors of sexual assault — whether in the community or behind bars — can contact the New Jersey Statewide Sexual Violence Hotline at 1-800-601-7200 for confidential support and resources.