WARREN, Maine — The limited details about the investigation are just seeing the light of day now, but the Maine Department of Corrections (DOC) said it has been looking into misconduct at its largest prison since Aug. 2023.
In a statement by DOC Commissioner Randal Liberty, allegations came to light alleging hazing, employee retaliation, harassment, and inappropriate relations between employees and inmates.
"The commissioner is taking, and will continue to take, appropriate actions in response to and as justified by the results of the investigation," the statement said.
Little to no details were offered as to how deep these allegations are spread within employees at Maine State Prison in Warren, but a spokesperson for the DOC said, in a response to a question from NEWS CENTER Maine, that there is new leadership for the prison at least for now.
Matthew Magnusson, who is the warden for the prison is no longer in charge. James Hancox, who is the DOC Deputy Director of Operations, took the leadership role as of Tuesday, Feb. 20.
The statement said these allegations go back to 2023, with the investigation still ongoing as of the publishing of this report.
Carl Heath, who has been incarcerated at Maine State Prison off and on since the early 2000s, said these allegations aren't surprising.
"This is an environmental problem," Heath said, who was convicted of murdering someone in Bangor. "If you got corrupt people in here running a system to hold corrupt people... how do you expect anyone to change?"
Heath said if he has to be incarcerated for most of his life, he wants to make sure any alleged misconduct doesn't end up hurting him or his fellow inmates.
Prisoner advocacy groups called the investigation seemingly 'widespread' through the prison.
"There were some rumors flying around about who was gone and who was coming in and all that," Joseph Jackson, executive director for the Maine Prisoners Advocacy Coalition said. "It just shows that everything is not peaches and cream."
"Now we know not everything isn't so sweet and there are issues," Jackson said.
Jackson added he was surprised that Matthew Magnusson was not in charge of the prison as of this week, saying Magnusson was always willing to work with Jackson's organization when complaints arose.
"I felt that he was responsive when we raised issues with him," Jackson said. "The warden has ultimate power and he controls everything, everything that happens... he has the ultimate power."
The Maine Department of Corrections said the investigation is ongoing, and did not elaborate on any other staffing positions impacted by this investigation.