A Kentucky deputy warden was arrested for sexually abusing an inmate

A deputy jailer at the Powell County Detention Center was arrested after an investigation revealed an alleged inappropriate relationship with an inmate, jailer Teddy Lacy confirmed.

Christine Spencer was arrested by the Stanton Police Department on Saturday, court records show. Spencer has worked as a correctional officer since the fall of 2023, Lacy, who runs the detention center, told the Herald-Leader.

The Powell County Detention Center received information that Spencer was involved in a relationship with an inmate and began an internal investigation, according to a post on Facebook.

During the investigation, “sufficient evidence” showed that Spencer was involved in the relationship, and she was charged and taken to the Clark County Detention Center.

Spencer was charged with second-degree sexual abuse. According to Lacy, she posted bond and was released.

Lacy said in a statement that the public should not be concerned about their trust in the detention center. He said he would handcuff an employee himself.

“The trust our community has placed in the staff here at the detention center is a commitment that I take very seriously,” he told the Herald-Leader. “In the rare event that this trust has been broken, it is important to be transparent and take action to uphold our responsibilities.

“We want to make sure the public knows that we will not allow it to be inappropriate as we serve the community.”