Prison guard who had a baby with an inmate pleads guilty to violating her oath

A former Central State Prison corrections officer pleaded guilty Monday to violating her oath by having a sexual relationship with an inmate.

Deenesha Lemandy Carter, 23, accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to five years on probation. She also must pay a $500 fine and surrender her Peace Officer Standards and Training certification. She is barred from holding a job in law enforcement while she’s on probation.

Sentenced as a first offender, Carter won’t have a felony record if she successfully completes her sentence.

Bibb County prosecutor Shelley Milton said Carter’s relationship with inmate Walter Lee Harris last year came to the attention of a prison warden.

An investigation revealed that Harris — an inmate serving a life sentence for a DeKalb County murder conviction — had a cellphone and was having phone conversations with Carter, Milton said.

When confronted, both Harris and Carter admitted having a relationship. Carter became pregnant and gave birth to Harris’ child, Milton said.

Carter stood quietly during the hearing.

Before announcing the sentence, Judge Howard Simms posed a one-word question to Carter: “Why?”

She responded, “I’m young and I made a mistake.”

This story was originally published June 19, 2017 at 3:04 PM with the headline "Prison guard who had a baby with an inmate pleads guilty to violating her oath."