Nilda Palacios, a survivor of sexual abuse in a California women’s prison, bravely shared her harrowing story of abuse at the hands of a prison guard. Palacios, who had been incarcerated since age 18, detailed the horrific abuse she endured at the hands of Sergeant Tony Ormonde, who sexually harassed and assaulted her while she was in prison.
Despite reporting the abuse, Palacios faced dismissal of her claims and no action was taken against Ormonde for years. It took recordings of Ormonde’s calls and a state investigation for prison officials to finally conclude that her allegations were true. Ormonde resigned while under investigation, avoiding sexual abuse charges.
The case sheds light on the pervasive issue of sexual abuse by guards in California women’s prisons, with over 1,400 complaints of staff sexual misconduct logged from 2021 through 2022. Palacios’s ordeal also highlights the challenges survivors face in having their accounts taken seriously, allowing abusers to evade accountability.
Palacios’s courage in coming forward and sharing her story serves as a beacon of hope for other survivors. Despite the trauma she endured, she is determined to empower others and break the cycle of abuse. Her resilience and strength in the face of adversity are truly inspiring.