LYNN HAVEN — A Bay County Jail correctional officer described as a family man with a spotless employment record has been arrested and fired after allegedly having a sexual relationship with an inmate.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that Pedro Reyes, a detention corporal employed by the jail since 2008, admitted to having sex with a female inmate on two occasions. He was charged with sexual misconduct between a detention facility employee and inmate, which is a third-degree felony.
Investigators believe the inmate was a willing participant in the encounters. She told BCSO that in mid-to-late October, they had sex in a storage room in the jail’s laundry facility, which Reyes supervises.
The Sheriff’s Office is investigating whether Reyes had sex with other inmates. Additional charges are possible, BCSO reported. An investigation is ongoing.
Jail director Rick Anglin said Reyes would’ve had to take significant risks to make the sexual encounters happen. Male and female inmates are held in separate dorms at the jail, and they’re supervised by detention officers of the same sex. The laundry facility also is separated by gender. And when the alleged encounters were occurring — between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. — other jail staffers were in the laundry area, Anglin said.
“He was able to manipulate, basically, opportunities to where he would be alone for short periods of time, is what we’re gathering,” he said.
Reyes, according to Anglin, has been a correctional officer for 19 years and previously worked at a state detention facility. Anglin said Reyes had no employment infractions at Bay County Jail. To his knowledge, Anglin said, Reyes also had a clean record at the state corrections center.
”I’m extremely disappointed. I would have never believed this. I’ve always known him to be a very good officer,” he said, adding that Reyes appeared to be a family man.
Anglin repeatedly called the inmate a victim, noting that while the sexual encounters appear to not have been forced, they were still against the law.
“There is no consent when dealing with inmates and staff. An inmate cannot consent to something like that because they’re under our supervision,” he said.
Reyes is being held at Washington County Jail.
An earlier version of this story is posted below:
PANAMA CITY — A Bay County Jail correctional officer has been arrested after allegedly having a sexual relationship with an inmate.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office reported Wednesday that Pedro Reyes, a detention corporal employed by the jail since 2008, admitted to having sex with a female inmate on two occasions. Investigators believe the relationship was consensual. The Sheriff's Office is investigating whether Reyes had sex with other inmates.
Reyes was charged with sexual misconduct a between detention facility employee and inmate. Additional charges are possible, BCSO reported.
This is developing story. Check back soon for more information.