State v. Ms. V (DMC No. 13545) – Felony Unlawful Sexual Conduct with an Inmate- Not Charged- Eloy Police Department Investigated (DR No. 20XX-XXX7) & Pinal County Attorney’s Office Investigated:
Ms. V was employed as a Correctional Officer for the Corrections Corporation of America in Pinal County. A relationship began to form with her and an inmate who was serving time for Voluntary Manslaughter and Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Third party correspondence began occurring between them through another friend, who was a Corrections Officer in Florida. When the corrections officer in Florida realized that the issue may be criminal, she turned it over to the warden’s office in Arizona.
When Ms. V was contacted by the Warden, she stated that the relationship had started because the inmate had overheard her talking about her personal problems. He had numerous conversations with her and then tried to kiss her one time. That was followed up by him grabbing her around the waist and kissing her on a separate occasion and telling her he loved her. He also pulled out his penis on one occasion, and he claimed that she kissed it. She denied ever having any sexual contact with the inmate.
She was terminated and then we became involved in the case. We contacted the Detectives in order to discuss their attempting to charge Ms. V with ARS 13-1419(a), which is Sexual Contact with an Inmate. That charge is a Class 5 Felony and can carry over 3 years of prison time. Ultimately, we cut off all further contact between the Investigators and Ms. V. We also had contacted with the Pinal County Attorney’s Office, and they ultimately decided to not proceed with charges due to the lack of cooperation of witnesses, and the fact that there was questionable “sexual conduct” between Ms. V and the inmate. Ultimately, she was Never Charged with anything and she has a clean criminal record.