At least 30 workers with the Kentucky Department of Corrections were caught having inappropriate relationships with inmates behind bars.

A shocking investigation by Herald-Leader newspaper offered a glimpse into official wrongdoing behind jail walls over 16 months, ending in November 2023.

The documents obtained by the publication disclosed 59 cases of employee-on-inmate sexual offenses in the past five years, with 35 cases involving possible criminal charges.

In addition to sexual misconduct, it was reported that 14 other prison workers received substances and contraband for inmates and, in some cases, were paid to do so.

The file disclosed 59 cases of employee-on-inmate sexual offenses in the past five years. Credit: Charles O'Rear / Getty

In a federal lawsuit filed last year, Todd Steven Boyce, 56, was accused of sexually abusing an inmate between March and July 2022. Allegedly, prison officials were conscious of his behaviors but did not stop him.

Boyce - who was then the head chaplain at the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex - has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges and is awaiting trial later this year.

"Boyce bragged to plaintiff that he had been previously accused of sexual abuse by other inmates and nothing happened to him, so no one would believe plaintiff if he reported him," the suit alleges, per the outlet.

In a different case, a 39-year-old employee named Trista Fox was charged with third-degree rape in December 2022 after a fellow cop caught her having sex with a convict at Kentucky State Penitentiary in Lyon County. She has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing in April.

The unidentified prisoner told officials that his sexual relationship with Fox was consensual, saying he "pursued her." However, under the law, inmates cannot consent to sexual contact with staff.

James Wells, a prison and jail consultant, and former Ohio prison correctional officer, reiterated a similar sentiment and said that staff in penitentiaries "have complete control over inmates' lives," per Daily Mail.

"They decide if you get extra toilet paper or extra toothpaste or if you don't," Wells continued. "If you're in an environment where you have nothing to bargain with but your body when you're dealing with people who hold all the power, then you might be forced to do things you wouldn't ordinarily do."

140 prison staffers investigated were investigated. Credit: Thinkstock Images / Getty

As a result of the 140 prison staffers investigated, 62 corrections employees were fired or quit. Others received warnings or additional training,

One female guard resigned from the job after being confronted about her relationship with an unnamed detainee. She spoke to investigators about their union, claiming she was powerless to the man's advances.

"He just caught me at the wrong time one day. I mean, I don’t know what else you want me to say," she reportedly said, per the outlet. Meanwhile, the inmate told prison officials during his interview that he wasn’t in "a relationship" with the officer, adding: "It was a situationship ... I’m saying that I just live in the moment."

Department of Corrections leaders have not directly addressed the inappropriate relationships or smuggling that took place. However, they emphasized that they will take any allegations of misconduct by employees seriously.

"We handle every piece of information the same, whether that be contraband or a relationship or whatever. The truth of the matter is, if we were not handling these situations in a very aggressive manner, the numbers would not be what they were,” Scott Jordan, deputy commissioner of adult institutions, said.

Featured image credit: Jackyenjoyphotography / Getty

A former Kentucky Clerk violated the rights of same-sex couples after denying them marriage licenses, a judge has ruled.

As reported by CBS News, US District Judge David Bunning ruled on Friday that Kim Davis violated the constitutional rights of two same-sex couples after refusing them marriage licenses.

Her refusal to do so not only resulted in her making headlines back in 2015, but briefly landed the former clerk of Rowan County in jail.

After the two couples sought legal action, Judge Bunning ruled that Davis "cannot use her own constitutional rights as a shield to violate the constitutional rights of others while performing her duties as an elected official."

Bunning's ruling now means that Davis will face a jury trial to determine whether or not she must pay any damages to the couples.

Back in 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples across the US had the right to marriage licenses. However, the decision led Davis - who says she objects to same-sex marriage based on her Christian beliefs - to deny all marriage licenses.

Davis in 2015. Credit: John Cornelius / Alamy

She was sued by both straight and gay couples, with a judge eventually ordering Davis to start reissuing the licenses. After refusing to do so, she was jailed for five days for contempt of court. Her release came after staff issued licenses on Davis' behalf - but committed her name from the legal document.

A state law was later introduced that removed the names of all county clerks from state marriage licenses, CBS News reports.

Republican Davis ran for reelection for the Rowan County clerkship in 2018, but was unsuccessful - losing out to Democrat Elwood Caudill Jr.

Credit: John Cornelius / Alamy

Liberty Counsel - the law firm representing Davis - believes the case could once again be brought to the Supreme Court, with the firm arguing that comments made by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas regarding Davis' religious beliefs.

In 2020, the Supreme Court rejected Davis' claim that a legal doctrine called qualified immunity protected her from being sued by couples David Ermold and David Moore as well as James Yates and Will Smith.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote at the time that although he agreed to reject Davis' claim of immunity, "those with sincerely held religious beliefs concerning marriage will find it increasingly difficult to participate in society without running afoul" of the case "and its effect on other antidiscrimination laws".

Liberty Counsel's founder and chairman Mat Staver argue that Davis "is entitled to protection to an accommodation based on her sincere religious belief".

"This case raises serious First Amendment free exercise of religion claims and has a high potential of reaching the Supreme Court," Staver added.

Featured image credit: Sipa US / Alamy

Earlier this week, news broke that a 26-year-old teacher from Florida had been arrested following a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy. The story shocked many people, especially once it transpired that the middle school teacher was married.

Now, the same thing has happened again - though this time in Alabama. Stephanie Henry Pruett, a 28-year-old high school teacher, was arrested by Calhoun County sheriff’s deputies on Thursday after it got out that she had been having an affair with a 17-year-old student.

Pruett, who is married and teaches a "Bible as literature" class, had been teaching at the Weaver High School for less than a year, and now faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for her crime.

Sheriff Matthew Wade has spoken to reporters about the incident, and stated that information provided by both Pruett and the student was enough evidence to lead to her being formally charged. According to him, their relationship had been going on for approximately five months, during which time the teacher was still living with her husband and their 4-year-old son.

"It's sad that a woman who has a family and went to college to become an educator is giving that all up,'' said Sheriff Wade. "I just don't understand why she went down that path. It's very disturbing and troubling."

Even though the relationship was consensual, it still counts as sexual intercourse with a minor - otherwise known as statutory rape. As well as potentially being slammed with a two-decade prison sentence, Pruett will also have to register as a sex offender, and will never be allowed to work with children again.

Astoundingly, Pruett has not been fired from her post at Weaver High School. In fact, according to the director of safety for Calhoun County Schools, Randy Reaves, the teacher has been placed on leave with pay. "That’s standard operating procedure for us," he said, adding that Pruett will remain on leave until the county school board decides to take further action.

In her bio on the Weaver School website, Pruett wrote:

"My goal as an educator is to provide students with the opportunity to engage and learn inside and outside of the classroom.

"Each and every student that walks into my classroom is an unique individual. This requires a differentiated approach to instruction, involving tools, techniques, technology, and hands-on experiences to reach each and every student where they are academically."

Puett had been married for 12 years, and - if she is convicted - will miss out on seeing her son grow up. Though many people often joke about female teachers engaging in sexual contact with male students, this is just as serious an issue as it would be if the genders were reversed.

No matter the ages of the students or teachers involved in cases like these, the problem is the breach of trust between an adult in a position of responsibility and a child that they have been tasked to care for.

 

Disturbing footage has captured the moment a Kentucky sheriff pointed his gun at a judge’s head before allegedly shooting him.Letcher County Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines, 43, is accused of fatally shooting District Court Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, last month.Shawn 'Mickey' Stines is accused of fatally shooting District Court Judge Kevin Mullins. Credit: Leslie County Detention CenterProsecutors played newly released surveillance footage of the brutal murder during a preliminary hearing on Tuesday (October 1).The chilling clip – which has no audio – shows Stines with Mullins in his chambers. The pair appeared to have a heated exchange before the sheriff pulled out his firearm and pointed it at the judge's head. Mullins, who was sitting behind his desk, raised his hands in fear and attempted to crouch down under his desk before Stines fired eight rounds at him. As the sheriff prepares to walk out of the room, he seemingly sees Mullins moving again so he fires several more shots.Warning: Video contains distressing footageAccording to CNN, Stines turned away from the screen when the haunting video - which was only 20 seconds - was playing in court. Several attendees in the gallery could be heard sobbing and moaning.Kentucky State Police have revealed that the full recording of their interaction, which wasn’t shown, was much longer.Kentucky Detective Clayton Stamper said that the suspect surrendered immediately after the alleged brutal murder, asking cops to “treat me fair” upon being taken into custody, per the outlet.He also reportedly made a confusing statement, telling authorities: “They’re trying to kidnap my wife and kid,” Stamper said. A possible motive for the murder has not been disclosed but the court heard Stines had allegedly found his daughter's number in Mullins' phone just before the cold-blooded killing. "I was told that Sheriff Stines had tried to call his daughter, and he had tried to call his daughter from the judge’s phone also,” Stamper shared, per reports.The preliminary hearing, which took place in West Liberty, Kentucky, came one day after Stines formally resigned his position as sheriff, per a letter from his attorneys.“Sheriff Stines has made this decision to allow for a successor to continue to protect his beloved constituents while he addresses the legal process ahead of him,” Bartley, the defense attorney, penned.Stines has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and is being held at the Leslie County Jail.The case was sent to the grand jury for indictment.Featured image credit: Leslie County Detention Center

Pastor David Lynn Richards Jr has been sentenced to 12 years in prison by a judge for repeatedly raping and abusing his 14-year-old adoptive daughter. But Knox County Judge Steve Sword has provoked controversy by giving the man a comparatively lenient sentence, citing that he was a "good Christian" in his sentencing.

Richards was found guilty by the jury of charges of rape, incest, and sexual battery by an authority figure, after repeatedly sexually assaulting Amber Richards, for two years. He maintained his innocence throughout the trial, repeatedly asking for mercy and alleging that Amber has fabricated the allegations against him as an act of rebellion against his strict parenting.

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Taking to the stand in his own defence, Richards stated: "I stand before you convicted of crimes I did not commit. I simply believe the system just erred in this case. I’m not sure why I’m here … but I assume it’s for [God's] purpose."

However, forensic testing performed on the adolescent girl's bed discovered clear evidence of seminal fluid with a DNA profile matching that of David Richards. Prosecutors sought the maximum penalty of 72 years incarceration for Richards' crimes.

Commenting on the sentencing after the trial ended, Amber stated: "I wanted to throw my body away. Not a day goes by that I don’t, in some way, think of what he did to me… I firmly believe if given the opportunity, he would victimise another young girl."

Despite this, Richards has since hired a new lawyer and made clear his personal intention to seek a new trial or an appeal in the future.