A convicted criminal, Tremaine Carroll, is facing rape charges stemming from alleged assaults on fellow inmates while incarcerated at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, California. A Madera County judge has ruled that Carroll, who identifies as a woman, must be referred to with she/her pronouns. However, Madera County District Attorney Sally Moreno strongly disagrees with this ruling, stating, “This is a person who is not a woman in any sense of the word.”
Moreno filed the rape charges in March after two cellmates of Carroll’s accused her of rape. A previous cellmate had become pregnant and been transferred. Moreno argues that the pronoun ruling hinders her ability to prosecute the case effectively, explaining, “This is a particular issue because it’s confusing to the jury. In California, rape is a crime that has to be accomplished by a man.” Supervising Deputy District Attorney Eric Dutemple adds that the situation is also deeply unfair to the victims, stating it’s “absolutely insane that a victim would have to get on the stand and police their pronoun usage when trying to recite one of the scariest times of their lives.”
Carroll’s incarceration in a women’s prison was permitted under Senate Bill 132, the Transgender Respect, Agency, and Dignity Act (2021), which allows inmates to be housed according to their self-identified gender. Moreno criticizes this law, stating, “There’s no psychological evaluation that needs to be done…the mere statement is enough.” Since the charges were filed, Carroll has been transferred to Salinas Valley State Prison for men.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to a safe and respectful environment for all inmates and its adherence to Senate Bill 132. The statement also notes that the CDCR thoroughly investigates all allegations of sexual abuse and does not comment on cases in litigation.
Moreno reports that Carroll has dismissed her defense attorney and will represent herself in court. Carroll’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 14th.