For many, the experience of going to jail is a nightmare.
For an extensive number of women booked into the La Plata County Jail between 2019 and 2024, that nightmare is one they’ve been unable to wake up from – even after their release.
Earlier this year, more than 100 female inmates who served time at the La Plata County Jail learned they may be victims of a jail commander who used his position of power to watch their strip-search videos for his own sexual gratification.
The women – six of whom agreed to speak with The Durango Herald – used words like “sick,” “angry” and “shocked” to describe the intrusion. “Chills,” “shame” and “fear” were other emotions expressed by the women after learning of the allegations.
Former jail Cmdr. Ed Aber is charged with of 117 counts of invasion of privacy and one count of official misconduct – all misdemeanors – in connection with the strip-search scandal at the La Plata County Jail. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation says Aber used his administrative access to view the strip-search videos on at least 3,166 occasions over five years – from Feb. 14, 2019, to Jan. 14, 2024 – and possibly dating back even earlier.
The strip-search videos show close-up views of sensitive areas, including the breasts and genitals, according to the CBI. They were recorded by body cameras worn by the female deputies conducting the searches and stored in a database Aber could access.
Aber allegedly viewed the videos at work, at home and while traveling.
None of the victims who spoke for this story were aware that their strip-searches were being recorded – let alone that the footage was saved to evidence.com and accessible to jail personnel with the rank of lieutenant or higher.
Several of the women who spoke for this story described feeling ill when they learned they had allegedly been violated by someone in a position of power overseeing an institution responsible for their safety.
“I was sick to my stomach. I was angry – especially (because) I didn’t know it was going on,” said Patricia Howell, who was last booked into the jail in November 2020. “I have goose bumps right now – chills – just thinking about it.”
Suzanne Garcia, first booked into the jail in 2013, and most recently booked in 2020 on a since-dismissed charge, had a similar response.
“My initial reaction (was) tears, shame, embarrassment and just total shock,” she said.
Elizabeth Petry, who was booked into the jail on several different occasions during Aber’s tenure, suspects he viewed jail inmates as morally inferior and used that to justify his actions.
“It upsets me a lot,” she said. “Even if we’ve made choices to end up in jail, that doesn’t take our rights away. I have made choices that put me in jail during that time. But that doesn’t mean I’m less human, or any less deserving of privacy. Even if you’re somebody that society deems a horrible person, you shouldn’t get your strip-search watched while some guy (masturbates). I don’t believe anybody deserves that.”
K.L., a victim who requested anonymity, is part of a class-action lawsuit filed against Aber. She said the revelations have caused trauma and strained her family life. She has started therapy to cope.
“I feel so violated and disgusting and embarrassed,” she said. “I got a letter in the mail saying that I was one of the victims, and my heart sunk. I just cried, and cried and cried. ... It’s traumatizing to all of us, and I’m so hurt by this.”
A.H., another victim who requested anonymity, said the allegations sent her mind spinning. Any trust she had in law enforcement has been shattered, she said – a sentiment echoed by other women who spoke for this story.
A.H., who was last booked into the jail in December 2022, said she has long had nightmares about Aber and her time in the jail – but that they’ve become more frequent since learning of the former jail commander’s misconduct.
“I felt weird (about Aber), and those fears were valid,” she said.
She described Aber acting “consistently creepy” during her time in the jail, saying he frequently stood too close during interactions with female inmates; made her feel unsafe during visits to the nurse, where he would personally oversee her and other patients; and made inappropriate comments about inmates’ bodies – including telling women they were “filling out” and suggesting they go down a size in their uniforms, presumably to make their bodies more visible.
“This was a known behavior,” A.H. said. “He worked there for 19 years. If this hadn’t come out, how many more (victims) would there have been?”
She said she and other female inmates sometimes discussed their discomfort with Aber, but never felt able to report it to authorities because of his status in the jail.
“You have to push through it when you’re in jail,” A.H. said. “You don’t have control at all. It makes you vulnerable. If you mention anything to people about how creepy it is, you’re shut down really quick, and it makes you feel like you’re a liar.”
Aber’s lawyer, Barrie Newberger King, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.
A.H. said Aber was not the only jail employee who behaved inappropriately with female inmates.
Howell agreed, saying she had her undershirt taken away while in solitary confinement after being placed on restriction for unexplained reasons, and avoided taking showers out of fear that male jail personnel were watching.
“The way the women’s shower was angled, they could stand on top and see all the girls naked in the shower,” she said. “And, oh yeah – they would do it. I wouldn’t get in there and shower in front of them.”
According to The National Prison Rape Elimination Act, jail facilities are required to implement policies and procedures that allow inmates to shower, perform bodily functions and change clothing without non-medical staff of the opposite gender viewing sensitive areas.
La Plata County Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Burke declined to comment about Aber’s case or alleged misconduct involving other staff members.
“It would be inappropriate for me to comment on any information regarding a case in litigation,” he said Friday.
The alleged abuse of power by Aber is one aspect of the case that has hit victims especially hard.
“I was so mad. I’m still mad at (him),” Howell said. “And it’s the whole environment – it trickles down. And he was in charge. He set the culture.”
A.H. expressed similar feelings.
“(Something) has to be done to stop people like this, because they have power,” she said. “We’re in a very vulnerable situation when we’re in (the jail), and somebody in that (position of) power can definitely – and has, apparently – abused it.”
A.H., Howell, Garcia and Petry said they first learned they were alleged victims from third parties – Howell from her son, which she said was “humiliating” – before receiving victim notification letters from the District Attorney’s Office.
D.O., a victim who requested anonymity, said the letter informing her she was a possible victim was vague.
“It just says, ‘You’re a victim, and this is the defendant,”’ she said. “It didn’t describe anything. I was like, ‘I don't know what the heck this is talking about.’”
Several victims who spoke for this story said they expect to deal with trauma for years to come.
Howell said she hopes no other La Plata County Jail inmates – now or in the future – have to experience what she did.
“There needs to be some changes made with Aber out,” she said. “Maybe they can clean (the jail) up. … But my dream would be to not let any other inmates go through what I did.”
Howell wants her story – and the stories of others allegedly violated by Aber’s misconduct – to be told.
“Someone needs to know about (my experience in the jail) – besides my poor mom,” she said. “She doesn’t even know everything. I don’t want to tell her.”
A.H. said she felt silenced as a jail inmate, but is determined to be heard now. She said she wants to see systemic changes to prevent future abuse.
“I’m not going to back down from this,” she said. “I’m really glad that there’s quite a few people that are able to speak out – and are willing to. It’s a little bit of vindication.”
epond@durangoherald.com
