January 30th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

The Cumberland Times News reports a correctional dietary officer at the Western Correctional Institution was arrested Wednesday on charges stemming from alleged sexual encounters she had with an inmate, according to Maryland court documents. Susan Housel, 58, of Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, was charged with three counts of correctional inmate sex offense, second-degree assault by a Division of Correction employee and perverted practice in an arrest warrant issued Monday by district court. The warrant stemmed from an investigation conducted by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

Housel was released Thursday from the Allegany County Detention Center on personal recognizance following bail review by a district court judge.

The alleged offenses occurred between November and December in 2019, when Housel allegedly had sexual contacts with an inmate in a supply room area of the prison, according to the court documents.

She has been placed on administrative leave, said Mark Vernarelli, a DPSCS spokesman.

"Our investigators acted very swiftly in this case," he said. "Nothing is more important than protecting our staff and inmates. These charges allege that an officer may have been compromised, and a compromised officer jeopardizes the safety of inmates and staff."