PALATKA, Fla. – An employee of a company that provides meals for the inmates in the Putnam County Jail has been arrested, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said.
Detectives arrested Regina Webb, 43, Wednesday afternoon. The Sheriff's Office said she was charged with two counts of introduction of contraband into a correctional facility and two counts of sexual misconduct with an inmate -- both charges are third-degree felonies.
Recommended Videos
Webb, who is an employee of a private vendor, was working in the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Facility kitchen when the alleged crimes occurred, the Sheriff's Office said.
Corrections deputies became aware of suspicious interactions between Webb and an adult male inmate who was assigned to work in the kitchen, deputies said.
Detectives determined during the investigation that Webb brought cigarettes to the inmate on at least two occasions. The Sheriff's Office said the correctional facility is tobacco-free and bringing cigarettes into the facility is considered introduction of contraband.
The investigation also revealed Webb engaged in consensual sexual intercourse with the inmate on two occasions inside the facility, the Sheriff's Office said. Because Webb's employment with the vendor placed her in a position of authority over the inmate, any sexual contact is a violation of Florida statute, even if the act is consensual, deputies said.
"Although Webb is not an employee of the Sheriff's Office, I demand that workers providing private contract services for the agency adhere to the same ethical standards," Sheriff DeLoach said.
Webb is being held on a $20,000 bond. The Sheriff's Office said the status of Webb's employment is a matter for the private vendor, but added that she will never be authorized to work within the Putnam County Jail again.