(ANGOLA) - A Steuben County Community Corrections officer is facing two felony charges after investigators say she had an intimate relationship with an inmate in late 2025.
Court records show 34-year-old Micale Wells of LaGrange is charged with Level 6 felony sexual misconduct by a state service provider with a detainee and official misconduct.
Indiana State Police were asked late last year to investigate the allegations. According to court documents, Wells was interviewed in January and allegedly admitted to a sexual encounter with the inmate at the Community Corrections facility, along with sharing photos of herself while he was still on work release.
Investigators say Wells told them the feelings became strong while the inmate was in the program and acknowledged she may have fallen in love with him.
Court records say the two later admitted to intimate touching in an area of the facility not covered by cameras shortly before the inmate's release in November 2025.
Wells allegedly told investigators she did not provide the inmate any special treatment, but also acknowledged she knew the interaction was a crime and said she was scared about the consequences.
The inmate, who remains on parole, later confirmed the relationship details during his own interview with detectives.
An initial court date has not yet been listed.