Las Vegas NowNV prison guard firing for inmate romance upheld
Associated Press - November 14, 2009 7:35 PM ET
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - A hearing officer has upheld the firing of a Nevada correctional officer for having a "romantic relationship" with an inmate.
Hearing officer Bill Kockenmeister upheld the Department of Correction's decision to fire Amelia Jimenez from her job at the Lovelock Correctional Center about 90 miles northeast of Reno.
He says the weight of the evidence supports the conlusion that she had "an improper relationship" with inmate Jesse Le Blanc.
While investigating damage to a prison security camera, officers saw her and the inmate disappear into a janitor closet for several minutes.
Le Blanc admitted the relationship, but said it was romantic and not sexual in nature.
Jimenez admitted she went into the closet with Le Blanc, but said she had to get cleaning supplies.
Information from: Nevada Appeal, http://www.nevadaappeal.com
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