A counselor nicknamed “Bigfoot,” Maya Hayes, 47, pled guilty to charges related to sexual abuse involving at least five victims at a juvenile detention center in upstate New York. This occurred on June 25, as part of a plea agreement with Columbia County prosecutors.
Hayes is facing a potential sentence of up to two and a half years in state prison and could be subjected to supervision for ten years after her release. Additionally, she would be required to register as a sex offender for at least 20 years, with sentencing set for September, according to the Columbia District Attorney’s Office.
Multiple lawsuits have been filed against Hayes by several young men who claim she abused her position by taking away privileges like phone access, hair products, and food. These accounts detail instances where she allegedly fondled them and pressured them into inappropriate actions, as outlined in court documents.
The incidents reportedly took place at a Brookwood Youth facility near Albany, with some cases involving victims significantly younger than Hayes.
In one lawsuit, a federal court report described an instance where Hayes supposedly sought oral sex from a young man, citing her sexual urges. She allegedly referred to this as her “fantasy” while assigning inappropriate tasks to the residents.
In another incident, Hayes reportedly exposed herself to a boy, asking him about her breasts, according to legal filings. Furthermore, she was accused of instructing a victim to be more aggressive with her, asserting he hadn’t “squeezed her breasts hard enough.”
In response to Hayes’ guilty plea, a statement emphasized that it marked a pivotal moment in addressing the sexual abuse and emotional trauma experienced by the victims in the Brookwood Secure Center, highlighting the staff’s complicity in such behavior.
The center is described as a safe facility for individuals under 21. Reports suggest that staff members were aware of the abuse, making light of it with remarks about Hayes, calling her “big feet.”
Hayes was arrested by New York State Police back in April, facing numerous counts of criminality and sexual assault. While she couldn’t be reached for immediate comment, court documents showed that she denied all allegations related to the lawsuits.
