Deputies: Inmate lied about being raped

ALDEN, N.Y. (WIVB) - After a thorough investigation, the Erie County Sheriff's Office has concluded an inmate concocted a story about being raped by a deputy in order to try and move to a prison closer to his wife.

Former South Buffalo resident 38-year-old Salvatore Andrews is serving a six-month sentence for failing to pay child support at the Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden. On August 29th, Andrews reported that he had been sodomized by a guard. But after investigating, authorities say Andrews made up the story in the hopes of being moved to the Orleans County Correctional Facility so that he would be closer to his wife in Albion.

A joint investigation between the Erie County Sheriff's Office and the Division of Professional Standards concluded:

1. There was no medical evidence to support Andrews' claim. He was examined by ECMC personnel on August 31st and there was no evidence showing he was raped.
2. A fellow inmate signed a sworn statement saying that a few days prior to Andrews making the allegation, Andrews had asked the inmate if making up a story about being assaulted would get him transferred. Prior to the allegation, the inmate says Andrews never seemed to have any issues with any of the jail personnel.
3. Andrews had several opportunities, including phone calls and visitors, to report the supposed assault. But he never mentioned it in any of the phone logs and no one outside the jail ever filed a complaint.
4. The guard Andrews claimed assaulted him would have had to work the midnight shift. But the guard signed out an hour earlier the night and time the alleged assault supposedly took place.
5. A computer program that indicates every time an inmate's cell is opened showed that Andrews' door was closed at 9:15 p.m. and not re-opened until the next morning for breakfast, though Andrews claimed the assault took place about midnight on August 29th.

Authorities say they found no evidence whatsoever to support Andrews' claim and have charged him with offering a false statement, second degree perjury and making a false statement. He will be arraigned on the new charges on September 19th.