Terminally Ill Survivor Battles New York Over Prison Sexual Abuse Claims

Fighting for Justice from a Hospital Bed: Sierra Johnson’s Lawsuit Against the State of New York

Diagnosed with end-stage heart failure, Sierra Johnson is using what time she has left to seek justice for the sexual abuse she says she endured while incarcerated in New York state prisons. The 36-year-old Native American woman, a member of the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne, is among nearly 1,600 women who have filed lawsuits under the Adult Survivors Act (ASA), claiming they were sexually assaulted while in state custody.

Allegations of Systemic Sexual Abuse in State Prisons

Johnson's lawsuit, filed in 2023, outlines horrific allegations of abuse she suffered during two periods of incarceration in 2014 and 2017. According to her legal complaint, three corrections officers and a prison doctor sexually assaulted her—acts that included rape, groping, verbal abuse, and a painful, forced gynecological procedure. One of the alleged perpetrators, Officer David Stupnick, was previously convicted in another sexual abuse case involving an incarcerated woman and has been accused by at least 20 other women under the ASA.

Johnson's legal team, led by attorney Anna Kull of Levy Konigsberg, asserts that the abuse she suffered was not isolated but indicative of a broader, entrenched pattern of sexual violence in New York’s women’s prisons. “These cases deserve a process that reflects the seriousness of the harm and the courage it took to come forward,” said Kull.

A Hardline Defense From the State

Despite Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2022 public support for the ASA, attorneys for survivors, including Kull, argue that the state has adopted an aggressive litigation strategy. Johnson’s case, rather than being resolved through settlement, is headed for trial—despite the fact that one of her alleged abusers is a convicted sex offender.

The Office of the New York State Attorney General, led by Letitia James, has opted to litigate each case individually. Survivors’ attorneys claim this tactic retraumatizes victims and delays justice, especially for terminally ill clients like Johnson. Her case was expedited due to her health, making it one of the first ASA prison-related cases to move forward.

The Scale of Abuse and Legal Action

According to a joint analysis by Hell Gate and New York Focus, more than 3,000 claims were filed during the ASA’s one-year window—nearly 1,600 of them against the state of New York for prison-related abuse. Survivors are seeking at least $30 billion in total damages.

Johnson’s attorneys are requesting $25 million in her individual case. If she does not survive to see a verdict, any award would go to her estate. Regardless, Johnson has made clear that her fight isn’t about money—it’s about breaking the cycle of abuse.

A Personal Mission Rooted in Generational Trauma

“I don’t know if I’m going to make it through this year,” Johnson said from her hospital bed, “but no matter what, when it comes to the treatment of inmates, we should be treated as human beings.”

Her words reflect the broader trauma experienced by Indigenous communities in the U.S. Johnson ties her personal experience to a legacy of institutional abuse faced by Native peoples—comparing incarceration to the historical removal of Indigenous families from their homes. “Being incarcerated is just an evolution of what has already been happening for generations,” she said.

A System Under Scrutiny

At Albion Correctional Facility and Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, Johnson alleges that she was raped, assaulted, and threatened. She also endured racist taunts and exploitation. In one instance, she was denied access to her contact lenses unless she performed oral sex on an officer.

She said a prison doctor at Bedford Hills forcibly performed a biopsy without her consent, after falsely telling her she had abnormal test results. The procedure left her in pain for days and permanently disrupted her menstrual cycle.

Stupnick, one of the main accused in her complaint, later followed her from the showers to her dorm, where she says he raped her by force. “I just sat there and I cried,” Johnson said, remembering the moment she decided to file her claim under the ASA. “It made me realize I’m not going to heal if I have to carry this.”

Survivors of Abuse NY: Committed to Advocating for Prison Abuse Victims

At Survivors of Abuse NY, attorney Thomas Giuffra, Esq. — known as The Abuse Lawyer NY — provides legal advocacy for survivors like Sierra Johnson. His team is committed to fighting for justice and systemic change in prison abuse cases across New York.

Survivors of prison abuse deserve to be heard and supported. If you or someone you love has suffered sexual abuse while incarcerated in New York, contact our firm today for a confidential consultation. Let us help you hold those responsible accountable and pursue the justice you deserve.

Source:

New York Focus