FRESNO, California — Sandra Munagay, a 42-year-old senior correctional officer from Atwater, appeared in federal court for arraignment on charges of assaulting an inmate and obstruction of justice. The charges stem from an incident on November 2, 2023, at the United States Penitentiary in Atwater, according to U.S.
Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. Munagay allegedly struck an inmate and falsified a report about the incident, stated the indictment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey A.
Spivak and Karen A. Escobar and is the result of an investigation by the U.S.
Department of Justice Office of Inspector General. A status conference is scheduled for December 11, 2024. If convicted, Munagay could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for obstruction and one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for assault.
Sentencing will be determined by the court, considering statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The charges are allegations, and Munagay is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt..
