A South Carolina nurse has been arrested after she allegedly helped an inmate escape from jail several times so they could have sex.
Katherine Heckman, 38, was charged with first-degree sexual misconduct with an inmate and escape/aiding escape from prison, WSOC reported.
The 38-year-old nurse worked as a contract employee at the Chester County Detention Center, which is about an hour north of Columbia.
South Carolina nurse Katherine Heckman (left), 38, has been arrested after she allegedly helped inmate Sean Lyles (right), 33, escape from the Chester County Detention Center several times so they could have sex.
The nurse worked as a contract employee at the jail above). Authorities said they received an email tipping them off to an incident between Heckman and Lyles. During an investigation they found she helped him escape at least six time so they could have sex
Officials with the Chester County Sheriff’s Office said they received an email tipping them off to an incident between Heckman and inmate, Sean Lyles, 33.
Authorities then launched an investigation and found that Heckman helped Lyles escape from the detention center at least six separate occasions in October and November, WSOC reported.
Heckman would pick Lyles up from the jail and then take him somewhere for sex, police say.
Lyles was serving time for multiple burglary charges, but he has now been charged with two counts of escape and attempted escape.
Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood (above) told WSOC that what happened is unacceptable. He said: ‘This isn’t going to happen here’
Heckman also worked as a paramedic with Chester County EMS, but she has since been placed on administrative leave without pay.
Command staff at the sheriff’s office is looking into security measures to determine how Lyles was able to escape.
Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood told WSOC that what happened is unacceptable.
‘We got on this quick, as soon as we heard about it, and put an end to it,’ Underwood said. ‘This isn’t going to happen here.’
Authorities are still investigating. Heckman has been released on bond, according to the detention center.