Former Federal Prison Guard Acquitted Of Charges That He Had Sex With Inmate
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A federal jury has acquitted a former federal prison guard charged with having sex with an inmate. The defense had argued the female inmate is an inveterate liar with multiple convictions for theft, fraud and forgery, and the jury has rejected her story.
Former federal prison guard Lamont Lucas was charged after the female inmate was caught with contraband, Tiffany earrings, and she told prison authorities the married Lucas gave them to her and they had been lovers.
But the defense, which said there was no sexual relationship, countered with powerful character evidence, including two current federal agents for Homeland Security.
One of these witnesses, a friend, told the jury he wouldn't associate with someone of questionable character, and he would trust his Lucas with his life.
The defense attorneys say the not guilty verdicts led to an emotional celebration with the defendant, led by Lucas's wife. Lucas, who served in the Navy, had been a guard for 18 years before his life was devastated by allegations in this case.
Lucas has been suspended without pay by the bureau of prisons. The defense indicates it's unlikely he'll try to return.
