Attorney General James Announces Conviction Of Former St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility Employee Who Engaged In Sexual Misconduct With Multiple Inmates 

Jennifer Parker Admitted to Engaging in Sexual Misconduct with Multiple Inmates Over the Course of Several Years

CANTON – Attorney General Letitia James today announced the guilty pleas of Jennifer Parker, a former Kitchen Supervisor at the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility in Canton, New York, for engaging in sexual misconduct with multiple inmates who were under her supervision and control, between 2011 and 2014. Parker entered guilty pleas before the Honorable Jerome J. Richards in St. Lawrence County Court, to two counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree in violation of Penal Law § 130.40(1), a class “E” felony and one count of Official Misconduct in violation of Penal Law § 195.00(1), a class “A” misdemeanor. 

Parker was the Head Cook at the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility in Canton from August 2010 until she resigned from her position in June 2018. Parker’s duties and responsibilities as Head Cook included managing and supervising both civilian employees and inmates who worked in the kitchen. According to filed documents and statements made in court today, Parker engaged in various sexual acts with multiple inmates who were committed to the care and custody of the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility, and worked for her in the kitchen at the Correctional Facility, and who, by state law, are incapable of consent. 

Parker admitted in court today that she engaged in oral sexual conduct with an inmate under her supervision and control between June 2011 and July 2011. Parker further admitted that she engaged in oral sexual conduct with a second inmate under her supervision and control in or around May 2012. Parker also admitted that between approximately February 2014 and March 2014, with the intent to obtain a benefit, she forcibly touched a third inmate under her supervision and control, constituting an unauthorized exercise of her official functions, knowing that such act was unauthorized.   

“No corner of our society should be beyond the shade of justice, not even correctional facilities,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “This individual was entrusted with serving our state, but instead took advantage of her role and the individuals she was responsible for overseeing - putting inmates and the entire facility at risk. This type of behavior will never be tolerated.” 

The defendant’s guilty pleas today follow a joint investigation by the Attorney General’s office and the New York State Police, which culminated in a sixteen-count indictment charging Parker with engaging in multiple acts of sexual misconduct relating to three inmates, including three felony counts of Rape in the Third Degree, five felony counts of Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree, one misdemeanor count of Promoting Prison Contraband in the Second Degree, two misdemeanor counts of Forcible Touching, and five misdemeanor counts of Official Misconduct.  

Parker is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20, 2019. Parker will also be required to register as a sex offender. 

Acting New York State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett said, “This guilty plea demonstrates that those people who are placed in a position of trust and violate that responsibility will be held accountable for their actions. I want to thank our partners at the Attorney General’s Office for their work and bring this case to a close.” 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Mary Gorman of the Public Integrity Bureau, with the assistance of Senior Analyst Joseph Conniff, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Stacy Aronowitz. The Criminal Justice Division is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado. The investigation was handled by Investigator David Buske with assistance from Investigator Joel Cordone of the Investigations Bureau, with support from Supervising Investigator Richard Doyle and Deputy Bureau Chief Antoine Karam. The Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Investigator John Reidy.  

The Attorney General thanks the New York State Police for their valuable assistance in this investigation. The Attorney General’s office received a criminal referral from the New York State Police.