HUNLOCK CREEK -- There were disturbing allegations released from the state police in Luzerne County. Officials said two children were allegedly sexually assaulted while visiting a state prison.
The man involved in the alleged assault, Andre Vancliff, 51, is serving a life sentence for murder at the state prison at Retreat located in Luzerne County.
Investigators said he was aided by 41-year-old Rebecca Butler.
The question is how did this happen?
Investigators said between May and September of last year, Rebecca Butler sent Vancliff a picture of a young girl wearing underwear, and allowed him to have sexually explicit conversations with two children.
Butler also is accused of bringing the kids to visit the prison where they were allegedly assaulted.
Investigators said between May and September of last year, Butler, brought the two children to visit the state prison facility located along the Susquehanna River in Luzerne County where they were allegedly assaulted by Vancliff.
"I am very surprised, I'm shocked," said Regina Tomassetti, who was visiting the prison.
We asked Juliana and Regina, who were visiting a family member, about the safeguards for guests inside the prison.
"You are in a room that has a caged door and you can't go in and out unless a guard lets you in and out, and everybody’s supposed to be in that room together," said Tomassetti.
The two women said while visits inside the prison are tightly supervised, there is a play area for visiting children where something could have happened.
"It is accessible for somebody to touch a person inside there,” said Tomassetti.
Police have not disclosed what Butler or Vancliff’s relationship to the children is.
Butler is charged with two counts of conspiracy to corrupt minors and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and her bail is set at $25,000.