PORT HURON, MI-- A former Marquette County Sheriff’s Office deputy has been arrested for having sex with an inmate at her new job downstate.
According to the Port Huron Times Herald Gemma Cowperthwaite, 26, of Fort Gratiot is accused of having a sexual relationship with an inmate who was on work release. She was fired from her job last week following an internal investigation after the alleged relationship was reported.
St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon says Cowperthwaite has worked at the county jail for about nine months. Before that she worked at the Marquette County Jail for a year or two.
Cowperthwaite is charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct—a 15-year felony. She’s posted a $10,000 bond.