WHEELWRIGHT, Ky. — The Kentucky Department of Corrections has hired a monitor for a private prison in eastern Kentucky where female inmates, including some from Hawai'i, have reported sexual assaults by staff.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reported that Gary M. Beckstrom will monitor the Otter Creek Correctional Complex in Wheelwright. Beckstorm is a former warden at Little Sandy Correctional Complex.

Kentucky is investigating 19 alleged assaults of female inmates by Otter Creek staff. Three of the allegations involved inmates from Hawai'i.

Jennifer Brislin, a spokeswoman for the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, told the Lexington newspaper that the action resulted from the sex-assault allegations.

Corrections Corporation of America, a Nashville, Tenn.-based company that runs the prison, has agreed to reimburse the state for Beckstrom's $42,000 contract.

CCA has contracts with Kentucky and Hawai'i to house prisoners at Otter Creek. Both states are investigating the allegations of sexual assaults.