TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court has declined to hear a case involving allegations of sexual misconduct by a dental lab instructor at the state-run women’s prison in Topeka, keeping his criminal record clear.
Tomas Co has denied allegations made by women under his supervision from 2013 to 2018 while overseeing the dental lab at the Topeka Correctional Facility. Last year, an appeals court overturned his conviction for unlawful sexual relations with an inmate, meaning he will face no punishment for unwanted touching and alleged sexual advances.
Sharon Sullivan, a Washburn University professor who has experience working with women survivors of human trafficking and sexual violence, said she was disappointed in the outcome of Co’s case. As the dental lab instructor, Sullivan said, Co held a position of power over women who were…
