A former female corrections officer who pleaded guilty to having sex with an inmate at a federal prison in Fort Worth faces the possibility of a long prison sentence, according to court documents.
Michele L. O'Neal admitted that in May 2011, she voluntarily engaged in a sexual act with an inmate in a basement on the grounds of the Fort Worth Federal Correctional Institution, according to a court document called a factual résumé.O'Neal used her keys to enter the locked area where a sex act occurred, court documents say."I can't tell you the reason she finally decided to plea," said O'Neal's attorney, Alex Tandy of Hurst. He said he gave his client all the options she could pursue in the case."I assume that she had talked to whomever her family members were and others ... and decided that's the best thing she should do," he said.O'Neal faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, followed by supervised release, court documents show. However, Tandy believes that O'Neal will receive two to three years.O'Neal's sentencing is set for October. She was indicted in February on a charge of sexual abuse of a ward and changed her plea to guilty in April, according to court documents.One factor in her decision may have been a detailed confession she gave investigators about a relationship with the inmate, who Tandy has said was serving time for arson. Tandy had filed a court motion saying the confession was coerced.O'Neal worked at the prison from September 2009 to June 1, 2011, when she was interviewed by investigators and subsequently resigned.During an interview with O'Neal, investigators employed a ruse in which O'Neal was shown two paper sacks marked "physical evidence" and "surveillance evidence." But the bags were empty.In a three-page typewritten document, O'Neal wrote that she had a sexual relationship with the inmate beginning in late March or early April 2011 and that she had sexual intercourse with the inmate May 28 and May 29, according to court documents filed by prosecutors. She read and initialed each page and signed it, prosecutors wrote.Tandy sought to have her statement suppressed on the grounds that she was not advised of her Miranda rights before investigators interviewed her at the prison. Prosecutors countered that O'Neal signed a document to provide information voluntarily.The document said her statements "may be used as evidence in any future criminal proceeding or agency disciplinary proceeding, or both."Darren Barbee, 817-390-7126Twitter: @DarrenBarbeeHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
