An inmate sneaks back into jail and defies the common expectation that inmates usually want to sneak out of jail. Disguised as a Department of Correction officer, 36-year-old Matthew Matagrano allegedly used a badge and an ID card to get into New York's notorious Rikers Island prison for a week in order to socialize with other inmates according to a March 2, 2013, NBC New York report.
“Officials say that for at least a week, Matagrano used phony credentials to get into multiple city lockups, including Rikers Island and the Manhattan Detention Center, where he mingled with inmates for hours.”
While it is still unknown if Matthew Matagrano had any other motive to sneak back into jail other than to socialize with inmates, the fact that someone can disguise as a Department of Correction officer, use a badge and an ID card, and roam a jail unnoticed for at least a week raises serious security concerns for Rikers.
“Matagrano apparently raised suspicions of other prison guards when he began moving inmates from one cell to another.”
The criminal complaint against Matthew Matagrano includes the illegal use of an all access pass to get through security checks, to allegedly have stolen a walkie talkie, and to have smoked cigarettes with inmates.
Matagrano, the inmate who succeeded to sneak back into jail, has prior convictions for sodomy and sexual abuse for which he was placed on the state’s sex offender registry. In 2004, Matagrano also pleaded guilty to attempted burglary.
As of now, Matthew Matagrano has a court-appointed lawyer and a judge set a bail at $50,000. Known as the inmate who wanted to sneak back into jail instead of sneaking out of jail, Matagrano is facing charges of “burglary, possession of forged instruments, larceny and promoting prison contraband. He is due back in court Wednesday.”
If Matthew Matagrano’s judge will show some compassion, Matagrano will get what he seems to be looking for; time with other inmates to mingle, smoke, and maybe (as a new form of exercise) even let him move inmates from one cell to another.
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