A former training sergeant at State Correctional Institution at Dallas was sentenced Wednesday to serve up to four years behind bars for groping and sexually harassing two female subordinates at the Jackson Twp. prison.
David Andrew Hoover, 44, of Larksville, was convicted at trial in September on two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault after the women testified he made repeated sexual comments toward them and groped them without permission.
Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas imposed the sentence Wednesday, noting the “serious nature of the offense” involving a prison supervisor exploiting his subordinates.
“He took advantage of that situation to victimize them,” Lupas said. “These offenses have long lasting effects on them, well into the future, and will harm them greatly.”
Prior to the sentence of six months to four years in prison being imposed, one of the victims described the impact Hoover’s actions have had on her life.
“The actions of David Hoover have completely changed my life, but not for the better,” said the woman, who is not being identified due to the nature of the offenses. “He targeted me from the start. He subjected me to horrific verbal harassment … making vile, graphic threats about what he wanted to do to me.”
Hoover did not address the court, with his attorney saying he planned to “stand silently” due to a planned appeal.
Prosecutors said Hoover worked as a training sergeant at the prison and was responsible for familiarizing new hires with prison operations.
During his trial, one of the victims offered tearful testimony that Hoover had grabbed and “jiggled” her buttocks on one occasion. The other woman testified that Hoover asked about any body piercings she might have before sticking his hand down the front of her shirt to check for himself.
Hoover took the stand himself and denied groping or harassing either woman.
His attorneys, Jason J. Mattioli and Michael J. Ossont, informed the jury that one of the women has a pending federal lawsuit against Hoover and the Department of Corrections over the incident, giving her a “direct financial interest in the outcome of this case.”
Assistant District Attorney Adam W. Bompadre countered by noting that in order to believe Hoover’s version of events, jurors would have to believe that everyone else was lying about what happened.
The jury deliberated for several hours before convicting Hoover on both counts.
During Hoover’s sentencing hearing Wednesday, Ossont described Hoover as a “decorated Army veteran” and requested a probationary sentence to allow the former correctional officer to continue supporting his family.
Bompadre, however, requested the maximum sentence of four years in prison, noting that Hoover runs a podcast titled “Negligent Discharge” and previously discussed his case on it, identifying the victims by name in an episode that has since been deleted.
“The only way I can describe it is Howard Stern on steroids,” Bompadre said of Hoover’s podcast. “It’s disgusting, and it describes his character.”
The prosecutor said Hoover “basically paints himself as a victim in this matter” and deserved a prison sentence regardless of military service, which he said is irrelevant.
“He has not accepted responsibility,” Bompadre said.
In imposing the sentence, Lupas ordered Hoover to register as a sex offender for 15 years.
Hoover, who was fired from the Department of Corrections following his arrest in March 2023, declined to comment as sheriff’s deputies escorted him out of the Luzerne County Courthouse to begin serving his sentence.