Joe Elias: Police accuse cook of having sex with inmate, The Patriot-News, August 11, 2006

NEW BLOOMFIELD - A female cook at the Perry County Prison has been charged with sexually assaulting a male inmate.

Ruby Louise Smith, 50, of the first block of Dead End Road, Greenwood Twp., was arraigned yesterday on one count of institutional sexual assault before District Judge Donald Pete Howell.

Smith faces up to 7 years in prison and a $15,000 fine if convicted.

A 32-year-old inmate told Warden David Yeingst that Smith had intercourse with him and performed oral sex on him in a storage area of the prison kitchen. The inmate reported the incident July 27, arrest records stated.

Smith later made a written confession to state police, saying she had sex with the man, arrest records state.

District Attorney Charles "Chad" Chenot said Smith had been rumored to have been engaging in sexual activity with inmates.

"There was talk about this going on for a while with different prisoners," Chenot said.

Trooper James Albert said the rumors corresponded to days when the prison kitchen received shipments by truck. The inmate who reported the incident worked at the kitchen unloading the truck, Albert said.

Yeingst forwarded questions about Smith's arrest to Bill Bunt, Perry County solicitor.

Bunt said Smith has worked at the prison in Centre Twp. since February 2000 and has been placed on unpaid leave.

Howell released Smith without bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 21.

Smith is the second midstate female prison employee to be accused of having sex with a male inmate in the last three months.

In June, two female corrections officers at Dauphin County Prison in Swatara Twp. resigned amid an investigation they had improper sexual contact with a male inmate.

Rebecca Sue Smith, 36, of Lykens, has been charged by the Dauphin County district attorney's office with one count of institutional sexual assault.

The other Dauphin County officer, who was not identified, was not charged. Dauphin County Commissioner Jeff Haste said that woman covered for Rebecca Sue Smith but did not take part in any misconduct.

JOE ELIAS: 567-3299 or jelias@patriot-news.com