Two area women allegedly had sex with male inmates on multiple occasions at the prison that the GEO Group operates in Golden Valley under a contract with the State of Arizona. Genevieve Belden, 32, Kingman, and Melony Petrovffsky, 50, Golden Valley, both entered not guilty pleas during their Nov. 2 arraignment hearings at the Mohave County Courthouse.
Belden is charged with a dozen counts of unlawful sexual conduct by a correctional employee while Petrovffsky is charged with three counts of the same offense.
Reports by Arizona Department of Corrections criminal investigator Monique Bullock indicate that alleged misconduct between Belden and an inmate identified as C.W. was videotaped and reported on Nov. 15, 2019. Petrovffsky reportedly supervised the prison commissary, where Belden also worked.
Petrovffsky became a suspect herself after reporting, along with Lt. Steve Romero, that Belden and C.W. engaged in sexual intercourse behind shelving racks inside the prison store.
“This criminal act was caught on video surveillance,” Bullock’s report said. “Belden is facing the wall while C.W. is behind her and he is seen thrusting back and forth.”
C.W., a child abuse convict, denied the allegations when initially interviewed. He later admitted he and Belden had been involved for a couple of months and that they would situate the shelving racks to create private space for intimacy inside the prison store where five male inmates enjoyed work privileges.
“He said he was not a victim and said he was perfectly fine,” Bullock’s report said of C.W.’s admissions. “He said he did not engage in anything he did not want to do and said he was not forced against his will to engage in the sexual activity with Belden.”
Bullock’s report noted that another investigator, while reviewing surveillance video in the Belden case, spotted flirtatious behavior involving Petrovffsky and another inmate identified as I.P., a convicted child molester.
Bullock said the video revealed hugging, kissing and groping. Bullock said her review of the video also showed I.P. performing oral sex on Petrovffsky and that she can be seen engaged in masturbatory behavior on him on at least two occasions.
Prison Warden Jeff Wrigley confirmed that neither Belden nor Petrovffsky are employed by the GEO Group any longer. He declined further comment.
State officials replied to press inquiry by issuing a statement through media relations. “The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) does not tolerate any inappropriate behavior by its staff or contracted staff and supports prosecution to the fullest extent of the law,” it said.
Superior Court Judge Rick Lambert advised both defendants they face potential prison terms, possibly lengthy, if convicted as charged. Belden and Petrovffsky are released on their own recognizance and directed to appear for separate pretrial conference hearings scheduled Nov. 23.
Dave Hawkins
