Rutland prison warden placed on leave pending investigation into misconduct allegations

The warden of the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland has been placed on leave pending an investigation into his alleged misconduct, according to the Vermont Department of Corrections.

Sharon Nykiel has been the director of the facility since her appointment in June 2022.

The Vermont Department of Human Resources plans to investigate the allegations against Nykiel, according to a press release from the Department of Corrections Wednesday afternoon.

Nykiel was placed on leave Wednesday morning, department spokeswoman Haley Sommer said.

Deputy Superintendent Michael Dounetos plans to oversee the Rutland facility until an interim superintendent is appointed in the next few days, the news release said.

The Department of Corrections did not provide information about the nature of the alleged misconduct and, citing department policy, does not comment on personnel investigations.

“The DOC, in collaboration with Human Resources, will announce the outcome of the investigation process upon its completion,” the press release states.

Contact information for Nykiel was not immediately available and she did not respond to a message sent to her state email address.

Corrections Commissioner Nicholas Deml said in the press release that the agency is “committed to fully and thoroughly investigating all allegations at all levels of our organization.”

Nykiel began her career in the Department of Corrections in 1994, according to a 2022 announcement of her appointment as director of the Rutland facility.

She was previously appointed Deputy Warden of Rutland Prison in 2021 and then served as interim warden in April 2022 before becoming warden a few months later.

The Rutland Prison on State Street houses about 125 inmates, according to the Department of Corrections.