2 former Strafford County Jail prisoners sue county over guard's alleged sex assaults

All of the incidents alleged to have occurred at the jail were during 2019 and 2020. (Courtesy photo)

DOVER - Two former female prisoners held at the Strafford County House of Corrections have filed lawsuits against the county, the jail and a former jail guard alleging he used his authority and position to sexually assault, and in one instance, rape one of the women.
The complaint was filed on Thursday by the Nicholas Law Firm of Concord on behalf of Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, whose names have been sealed by the court.
Patrick Schaeffer, 43, formerly of 193 Old Turnpike Road, Nottingham, was indicted in October 2023 on three counts of Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault and five counts of Felonious Sexual Assault.
In June he was indicted on additional counts of Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault and Attempted Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault.
The charges are elevated because Schaeffer, as a prison guard, was in a position of authority over the women.
The assaults allegedly occurred in the laundry room, which is down a hallway from the booking room where Schaeffer routinely worked.
In the initial complaint by Jane Doe 1 she alleges that Schaeffer came into the laundry room where she was working and asked for oral sex.
Soon after she refused he "forced his hand down the front of plaintiff's pants and touched plaintiff's vagina over underwear."
He then said if she reported it she'd be placed in maximum security.
"Officer Schaeffer then forced Plaintiff's pants down, exposed his penis to Plaintiff, and forcefully inserted his penis into Plaintiff's vagina,' according to the complaint.
Jane Doe 2 was also in the laundry room during an alleged sexual assault by Schaeffer.
"In one instance while in the laundry room, Officer Shaefferr approached Plaintiff from behind as she was folding laundry and forced his crotch up against her buttocks," according to the complaint. "As Officer Schaeffer had his crotch pressed up against Plaintiff's buttocks, he said 'Are you going to suck my d***?', which she declined."
Jane Doe 2 also alleges "In one instance while in the laundry room, Officer Shaefferr intentionally threw an item onto the ground for Plaintiff to pick up. When Plaintiff bent over to pick up the item, Officer Schaeffer would approach Plaintiff from behind and rub his crotch against her buttocks" and then "used his hand to grab onto Plaintiffs' buttocks in an aggressive manner."
Both Jane Doe 1 and 2 bunked in separate cells which Schaeffer is alleged to have visited and offered food and favors if the women would flash their breasts, which they all refused to do.
Schaeffer's actions originally drew no charges, because the women were said to be uncooperative in an official investigation, but one of their cellmates filed paperwork in Strafford Superior Court demanding they release the results of an internal investigation.
After stonewalling the cellmate several times it was released to the inmate.
Subsequently charges were finally brought forward after a news article in a regional publication that said Schaeffer had admitted to his actions.
All of the allegations put forward by the two women occurred during 2019 and 2020, while Schaeffer was employed at the jail. He now lives in San Antonio, Texas.
The criminal case has been transferred to Carroll County. It is being prosecuted by Sr. Asst. County Attorney Christopher Mignanelli.
A trial is tentatively scheduled to begin with jury selections on May 5.