Charges: Federal prison guard took bribes to permit sex

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - A federal prison guard in western Indiana accepted bribes from inmates to allow them to have sex with women on prison grounds or at nearby hotels and to allow alcoholic beverages, drugs and other contraband, authorities said Tuesday.

Leon Perry III, 41, of Linton, Indiana, was arrested on charges include bribery, conspiracy and permitting escapes from the minimum-security federal prison camp at Terre Haute, U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler said.

"Mr. Perry put the safety and welfare of the inmates, correctional officers, the institution and the entire Terre Haute community in jeopardy by allowing this to occur," Minkler said in a news release. "He allowed greed and power to betray the confidence we place in prison officials."

A 20-count indictment says Perry's responsibilities included patrolling the grounds to prevent any escape attempts, but in exchange for bribes up to $250, he'd arrange to be in other parts of the camp while inmates slipped away for liaisons with wives, girlfriends and other women at Terre Haute-area hotels or the women joined them in the unfenced camp for sex in the women's cars parked at locations including a bus garage and a shooting range.

Perry also accepted prescription medication and cellphones as bribes, and the cellphones were used, in part, to allow so lookout inmates to warn the inmates having sex of surprise, imminent prisoner counts, the indictment said.

Perry, a guard for about 10 years, accepted the bribes as long ago as September 2016.

Perry faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of all charges, the news release said.

Federal court records don't list an attorney for Perry who might comment on his behalf.