CHADRON, Neb. (AP) – A former Dawes County jailer accused of at least unintentionally aiding an escape attempt has taken a plea deal.
Court records say 31-year-old Sherry Whitinger pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of introducing escape implements. Prosecutors dropped a charge that she’d had sex with an inmate. Her sentencing is set for March 2.
She’s denied intentionally aiding the escape attempt.
Whitinger had provided inmates with a cellphone that was recovered from an inmate who surrendered before he could get out of the county courthouse during his escape attempt in September.
Authorities say he was not the inmate with whom Whitinger had sex. Nebraska law says jailers or other law enforcement officials who have sex with inmates have committed sexual assault.