A South Carolina prison nurse, Courtney Williams, 36, has been arrested and charged with first-degree sexual misconduct with an inmate and bribery. According to an arrest warrant, Williams allegedly engaged in a nearly two-month relationship with an inmate under her direct care and supervision at the Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center, a male-only facility.
Prosecutors stated that Williams used her official access and authority to facilitate the alleged relationship, which included planning sexual intercourse within the prison workplace. The investigation revealed that Williams smuggled a cellphone into the facility for the inmate. This device was used to exchange approximately 1,000 text messages between March 30 and May 29.
Investigators found sexually explicit messages on both the inmate's and Williams' phones. The warrant indicates that the communications confirmed completed sexual intercourse with penetration. Evidence cited includes digital forensic examinations of the cellphones, video footage, and statements.
Williams resigned from her position with the South Carolina Department of Corrections in April, shortly after the alleged relationship began, amid a misconduct probe. She had also recently worked for the state's Department of Juvenile Justice, where she resigned earlier this month while under investigation for undisclosed details.
If convicted of the charges, Williams faces up to 10 years in prison.