Woman Returned to Prison After Objecting to Rooming with Male Sex Offender at Rhode Island Halfway House

A woman was sent back to federal prison after objecting to rooming with a biological male sex offender at a Rhode Island halfway house, according to a public records request obtained by Fox News Digital.

America First Legal filed the request with the Bureau of Prisons on Monday for details on the re-incarceration of Sarah Cavanaugh. She had been serving the remainder of her sentence at Houston House, a halfway house in Rhode Island run by the nonprofit Community Resources for Justice.

The request questions whether Bureau of Prisons contractors followed President Donald Trump's day-one directive requiring agencies to ensure biological men are not detained in women's prisons. That order forms part of the administration's push to tighten policies on transgender people.

"Men should not share intimate spaces with women; this includes in our federal prisons," Emily Percival, AFL senior counsel, said in a statement. "The BOP has a duty to provide for the safekeeping, care, and protection of federal inmates."

Percival accused the Bureau of Prisons of shirking its duty by allowing its contractor to send a woman back to prison after she raised concerns about sharing a room with a biological male convicted of a heinous sex crime.

Cavanaugh received a roughly six-year sentence in 2023 for a stolen valor conviction. The Bureau of Prisons transferred her to Houston House after deeming her a good candidate. Last August, staff informed her she would get a new roommate named Haley Lynn Rose. An online search revealed the person was Anthony Ninfo, a male who pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography in 2024.

Cavanaugh told staff she felt uncomfortable sharing a room with a man convicted of a sex offense, according to AFL's records request. Staff directed her to facility management. The next day, she received an incident report accusing her of violating halfway house conditions.

The report stated that Cavanaugh created a hostile environment for the transgender felon and overstepped boundaries by inquiring about the gender identity, genitalia, charges, and room assignment of another Houston House resident. It added that asserting preferences regarding room assignments is inappropriate.

Her placement at the halfway house was revoked as a result, and she was returned to prison for six months, AFL said.

The legal group noted the incident conflicts with Trump's executive order "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government." The order holds that only two sexes exist and requires inmates to be separated by sex.

The case arises amid legal challenges from civil rights groups over the order's implementation. Courts have allowed some prison housing policy aspects to proceed.

Citing the Freedom of Information Act, AFL sought records on staff interactions with Cavanaugh, her incident report, actions against her, and the Bureau of Prisons' contract with Houston House.

The Bureau of Prisons told Fox News Digital it could not provide more information on Cavanaugh due to privacy reasons.

"For privacy, safety, and security reasons, the BOP does not release information regarding the conditions of confinement for any incarcerated individual," a BOP spokesperson said. "However, we can share that the BOP is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all individuals in our population, our employees, and the public. Humane treatment of the men and women in our custody is a top priority. The BOP is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, impartiality, and professionalism in the operation of its facilities."

Fox News Digital contacted Houston House and Community Resources for Justice for comment.