13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Guard charged with taking advantage of female inmates

Guard charged with taking advantage of female inmates

Steve Jefferson/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - A community corrections contractor is in custody for allegedly using his position to take advantage of female inmates in his care.

Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi filed felony charges against Brima Kemokai, a contractor in charge of guarding inmates on home detention. Inmates placed on home detention met with guards like Kemokai to get fitted for home monitoring devices. Kemokai worked for the company for about three months.

But Brizzi says a female inmate complained when she met with Kemokai and that he not only threatened her, but asked for a date.

"Told her how beautiful she was, that he would like to take her out to dinner and essentially have a relationship with her," Brizzi said. "He said to her, 'I can make it seem like you are complying or like you are not complying'."

Tom Marendt is executive director for Marion County Community Corrections, which contracts with the Marion County Jail. Community Corrections in turn contracts with Sentinel, who hired Kemokai.

"We do know that Sentinel runs a background check and follows through on all their employees," Marendt said.

Part of the evidence in the case includes audio tapes recorded at an Applebee's restaurant. One of the victims wore a hidden microphone while on a date with Kemokai.

"Those in-person conversations were recorded and they ordered some food and left to go back to his apartment and that when Brima Kemokai was arrested," Brizzi said.

Brizzi says a second female offender came forward about Kemokai and he himself confessed to a relationship with a third female offender. That lead to prosecutors asking for a higher bond, which is now set at a million dollars.

Prosecutors are working on finding the third female offender involved with Kemokai. In the meantime, Brizzi wants the county to give the contract with the security company a complete check-up.