Ex-Iowa prison employee charged with having sex with inmate

MITCHELLVILLE, Iowa (AP) — A former employee of women’s correctional facility in Mitchellville was arrested Friday morning after being accused of engaging in sexual acts with an inmate in exchange for tobacco products.

55-year-old Shawn William Durrell, of Urbandale, was arrested Friday and charged with sexual misconduct with an offender. He had been employed as the correctional food service coordinator at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women when the alleged sexual misconduct took place between July 4 and Aug. 9. He had been working at the facility for 16 years before resigning in August.

Court documents say Durrell was released on $2,000 bond. His next court appearance is Oct. 7.