A former federal corrections officer in Santa Barbara County could face up to 15 years in prison, after pleading guilty to having a sexual relationship with an inmate.
Renee Noelle Gutierrez pled guilty in federal court to a charge of sexual abuse of a ward.
Prosecutors say it occurred in April of 2010, when the 42 year old woman was in charge of more than 500 inmates in a prison dorm at the Federal Correctional Complex in Lompoc.
Investigators say she resigned after the sexual relationship with a male inmate was uncovered, but before she was indicted by a grand jury.
She’ll be sentenced March 26th.
