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Fort Worth Prison Guard Had Sex With Inmate

FORT WORTH (AP) - A former federal prison guard in North Texas who had sex with an inmate faces up to 15 years behind bars.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Monday that court documents indicate Michele L. O'Neal used her keys to enter a locked area to reach the inmate.

The sexual encounter happened in May 2011 in a basement at the Fort Worth Federal Correctional Institution. O'Neal resigned the following month after being questioned by investigators.

She was indicted in February on a charge of sexual abuse of a ward. Defense attorney Alex Tandy says he has no information on why O'Neal in April changed her plea to guilty. Sentencing has been set for October.

The inmate was serving time for arson. Further details on the prisoner weren't immediately released.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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