Sentencing delayed in prison sex

Tuesday, March 22, 2005 | 11:23 a.m.

A judge this morning postponed sentencing a former guard at the state women's prison in North Las Vegas and the inmate whose baby he fathered after the inmate alleged the guard lured her into having sex by offering drugs and alcohol.

Former correctional officer Randy Easter and inmate Korinda Martin previously pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to the incident in January, but on Tuesday had different stories as to what happened.

Martin disputed Easter's allegation that she had sex with him voluntarily.

"This man (Easter) took me in a chemical closet and with vodka intoxicated me and lured me to a secluded part of the prison where he sexually assaulted me," Martin said.

Martin, standing in chains, said Easter got her drunk on three separate occasions and gave her "prescription pills" on two others.

District Judge Donald Mosley questioned how Martin could say Easter lured her into having sex when she voluntarily took the vodka and pills.

"He threatened me. I felt I didn't have a choice your honor," Martin said.

Easter said the sex "should never have happened. There is no reason for it. I can't understand it. There is nothing I can say to make it better. I have to stand up and do what's right."

Easter's attorney, Peter Christiansen, said Easter hoped to "have a relationship with this child."

Outside the courtroom Tuesday Easter was served with child support papers.

Martin's attorney, Scott Olifant, said, "The fact he (Easter) had to be served and didn't come forward previously to accept responsibility for the child speaks for itself."

The child is currently with Martin's mother.

Christiansen disputed Martin's new allegation that the sexual relationship wasn't voluntary and said letters written by Martin to Easter would prove the contrary. While the defense attorney wouldn't comment on the exact content of the letters he said "they are not going to support what Ms. Martin claimed in court today."

Mosley postponed sentencing Easter and Martin until April 19 so he could review the letters.

Olifant conceded that the letters "when taken out of context would suggest a willful relationship." He said Christiansen failed to discuss the letters Easter wrote to Martin "professing his (Easter's) desire to be intimate with her (Martin)."

"What is inexcusable is Mr. Easter wore the badge," Olifant said. "He's not supposed to be engaging willfully in criminal conduct especially with an inmate especially with one who has a substantial psychological history that required anti-psychotic medication."

Olifant would not provide specifics regarding Martin's mental health history.

Olifant, said he is awaiting the setting of a trial date for a federal civil suit Martin has filed against Easter, Corrections Corp. of America, which operates the Southern Nevada Women's Facility, the state Department of Corrections and Gov. Kenny Guinn.

On Jan. 25, Easter pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary sexual conduct with a prisoner for having sex with Martin on Jan. 25.

The sexual encounter at Southern Nevada Women's Facility resulted in Martin giving birth to a 7-pound boy in January 2004.

Easter faces probation or one to four years in prison when he is sentenced.

Martin entered an Alford plea on Jan. 25 to one count of conspiracy to commit a crime. Under an Alford plea a defendant technically does not admit guilt but agrees that prosecutors could prove their case at trial.

Martin is already in custody at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City where she is serving a two- to 10-year sentence on a robbery charge. The prosecutor, Chief Deputy Attorney General Gerald Gardner, said he would not oppose probation for Martin.