Corrections Officer Charged with Sex Offenses Against Inmate

A Montgomery County Department of Corrections officer has been charged with attempted rape for allegedly trying to force an inmate to have sex while on a work detail.

Jereme Keith Simmons, 32, of the 8800 block of Hunting Lane in Laurel, was arrested Tuesday for having inappropriate contact with a 26-year-old female Pre-Trial Services inmate while he worked as a correctional officer for the Montgomery County Department of Corrections. The victim was not incarcerated, but was under the supervision of the Department of Corrections to complete community service hours, authorities say.

On June 9, Simmons was working as a correctional officer overseeing pre-trial inmates assigned to a Department of Corrections work detail at the Department of General Services warehouse in Rockville.

While the victim was in the warehouse bathroom, Simmons entered and assaulted her, police say. She reported that Simmons told her that if they engaged in sexual activity at a later date, he would certify that the remaining balance of her community service hours had been completed.

Investigators arranged for the victim to meet with Simmons June 25 at the Pre-Trial Services Unit in Rockville, where they recorded Simmons apologizing to the victim several times. He also reportedly told her that he planned to have sex with her at the warehouse.

Simmons was arrested July 7 and charged with one count of attempted second-degree rape, one count of malfeasance in office, and one count of sexual conduct between a correctional officer and an inmate.

Simmons was released after posting bond.

»Photo of Jereme Keith Simmons of Laurel, courtesy of Montgomery County Police