Former prison worker pleads guilty to sex charge in South Dakota

PIERRE A former prison employee has pleaded guilty to one count of a prohibited sexual act between a prison employee and a prisoner.

Cassandra Jelsma, 36, entered her guilty plea on Tuesday in Bon Homme County Circuit Court. She faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a $4,000 fine when she is sentenced on Feb. 4.

The incident happened between Nov. 1, 2022, and June 22, 2023, with an inmate at the Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield.

The defendant was a prison employee at the time.