A woman who worked the graveyard shift at a federal prison in Englewood admitted in U.S. District Court on Thursday that she would unlock an inmate’s cell and have sex with him in a recreation room.
Jessica Freel, 34, pleaded guilty to the charge of abusive sexual contact with an inmate, identified only by the initials J.E., in the courtroom of Senior Judge John Kane.
Freel previously signed a plea agreement with U.S. Attorney John Walsh in which prosecutors agreed to dismiss a count of sexual abuse of a ward.
“This is a very serious matter,” Kane said during the hearing.
“Very serious,” Freel responded. She was dressed in a dark, pin-striped pant suit.
Kane described the allegations against Freel, saying that the inappropriate behavior ran from Oct. 2-29, 2013.
During her shift, Freel would unlock the cell J.E. was staying in and go to the day room for one or two hours. On two occasions they had sexual relations, including one instance when they had intercourse.
Staff at the became suspicious of Freel’s relationship with J.E. and began investigating.
Investigators captured the pair on camera having sex and discovered e-mail messages exchanged between them in which Freel used an alias.
Freel faces up to . Sentencing is scheduled for April 29.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, denverpost.com/coldcases or twitter.com/kirkmitchell
