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Indiana corrections employee accused of sex with 18-year-old inmate

Posted at 1:54 PM, Feb 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-17 14:47:35-05

PENDLETON, Ind. -- A former Indiana Department of Corrections employee was arrested Thursday on allegations of inappropriate sexual contact with an inmate.

Indiana State Police were contacted last month about alleged incidents in late December 2016 at the Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility.

A subsequent investigation turned up evidence suggesting correctional employee Sydney Kia Highbaugh, 22, of Anderson, had engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with an 18-year-old inmate at the juvenile facility.

A warrant for Highbaugh's arrest was issued Tuesday. She turned herself in at the Madison County Jail Thursday night.

Highbaugh faces charges of sexual misconduct as a service provider, official misconduct as a public servant and trafficking with an inmate.

As of Friday afternoon, Highbaugh was being held at the Madison County Detention Center.