3 State Staff Arrested For Improper Use Of Child-Abuse Files

3 State Staff Arrested For Improper Use Of Child-Abuse Files


Three state employees were arrested June 5 on accusations of checking confidential child-abuse files to get information for personal use. The employees of the state Office of Children and Family Services allegedly obtained the data while at work.

The OCFS operates the State Central Register, which contains legally-protected information from telephone hotline calls alleging child abuse or maltreatment. The employees are being charged with one felony count of computer trespass, and two misdemeanors, official misconduct and improperly disclosing State Central Register Files.

Quit After Aiding Stalker

One employee, James Plante, resigned after it was discovered that he copied a file and gave it to an acquaintance, who used it to stalk a 14-year old girl who he believed was his daughter.

The two other employees are now on administrative leave. Yvonne Lawson is accused of using the register to look up incriminating evidence on her estranged husband, while Megan Flom-Corkery allegedly looked up information about a juvenile and a social worker concerning an ongoing family problem.

"Confidentiality is at the core of the states' prevention and prosecution of child abuse," Inspector General Joseph Fisch said. "When the employees entrusted with protecting our citizens violate that trust, the system's credibility is placed at risk."

"Today's action will send out the message that these abuses will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said OCFS Commissioner Gladys Carrion.

According to investigators, all three employees only had approval to use the Register to view cases that were assigned to them.