Joco corrections worker accused of unlawful sex with offender

A 24-year-old woman who worked for the Johnson County Department of Corrections was arrested Monday for allegedly having sexual contact with an offender.

Alyssa Jo Staats of Olathe is charged in Johnson County District Court with three felony counts of unlawful sexual relations.

The charges allege that Staats had sexual contact with an adult offender in the department’s Therapeutic Community, an intensive drug treatment program housed at the department’s Adult Residential Center.

The incidents allegedly occurred last year between June 1 and Dec. 2, according to court documents. Staats worked as a corrections adviser for the department from April until Dec. 2 at the residential center.

Officials with the Department of Corrections said they couldn't comment further because it is a personnel matter.

She was charged under a Kansas law that makes it illegal for an employee or volunteer of a corrections facility or jail to have sexual contact with an offender even if the contact is consensual.

Court documents identify the offender only by initials and give the person’s age as 22 or 23.

Staats made her initial court appearance Monday. She was released after posting a $15,000 bond.

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 12:06 PM with the headline "Joco corrections worker accused of unlawful sex with offender."