Plea deal expected in youth-jail sex

Kim Smith

Thursday, Sept. 6, 2001 | 10:36 a.m.

The second of two former youth prison workers charged with having sexual relations with inmates will enter a plea agreement later this month.

Deputy Public Defender Darren Cox said Jennifer Burkley waived her right to a preliminary hearing in North Las Vegas Justice Court Wednesday and announced she will plead guilty to a single criminal charge in District Court Sept. 19.

Burkley will plead guilty to the gross misdemeanor of conspiracy to commit voluntary sexual acts with a prisoner, Cox said. As a result, she could get up to one year in jail or probation.

Burkley, 22, was charged with five counts of sexual contact with a prisoner and one count of oppression under the color of office last week.

She and Gloria Kim, 24, were arrested after authorities heard allegations that they had been engaging in sex acts with two inmates at the Summit View Youth Correctional Facility in North Las Vegas.

Kim, who was charged with one count of sexual contact with a prisoner and one count of oppression under the color of office, has also said she intends to enter a plea agreement.

Kim is expected to plead guilty to the same charge as Burkley Sept. 12 in District Judge Joseph Bonaventure's courtroom. She faces the same penalties.

Metro Police began investigating Burkley and Kim in May after allegations arose that they had been romantically linked with the boys, who were 17 and 18 at the time.

According to internal memos and reports from Summit View, a youth told his parole officer that he and two other youths were engaging in sexual relations with staff members.

Metro said its investigation is complete and doesn't expect to file any additional charges.

The boy said the acts typically took place at night within the facility's laundry room or in their cells.

Summit View is a 96-bed, maximum security facility operated by Youth Services International, a Florida-based for-profit corporation that has a three-year contract with the state.