WALLA WALLA, June 16, 2013 — A former Washington State Penitentiary employee has been charged with a felony for allegedly having sex with an inmate at the prison in 2008 and 2009.

#Laura C. Lindsay, 39, of 1211 Wallula Ave., is accused in Walla Walla County Superior Court of first-degree custodial sexual misconduct.

#Officials claim a state investigation revealed that Lindsay, who was a classification counselor at the penitentiary, was involved in a sexual relationship with the inmate between March 20, 2008, and Feb. 6, 2009.

#The encounters allegedly occurred in private areas of the penitentiary that are inside close-custody boundaries.

#The investigation began last July after pictures of Lindsay posing nude were found in the prisoner’s cell during a routine search, according to a Walla Walla police report filed in court.

#The criminal charge, filed Friday, alleges that the inmate believed Lindsay had the ability to influence the terms, conditions or length of his incarceration.

#Lindsay reportedly admitted having sex with the inmate and resigned from the prison on July 12 last year. She has not been arrested, but is being summoned to court July 29 for her first appearance.

#If eventually convicted as charged, she faces a standard-range jail term of 6 months to a year.

#The inmate now is incarcerated at the Monroe Corrections Center, according to the state Department of Corrections’ website.

-Terry McConn

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