YUMA — Three Yuma County sheriff's detention officers arrested on charges of having sex with female jail inmates have been released on bond after a court hearing.
Jose Espinoza, 26, was initially charged with six counts of unlawful sexual contact, but additional charges of sexual assault and kidnapping were filed Friday by prosecutors. He was ordered to undergo electronic monitoring while out on bail.
Officer Justin Herrera, 26, was charged with two counts of unlawful sexual conduct by a corrections officer. Officer Kenneth Smith, 34, was charged with one count of sexual assault and three counts of unlawful sexual conduct by a corrections officer.
Yuma County prosecutor James Eustace said Espinoza was charged with the more serious crimes because he lured his alleged victim by lying about a visitor being at the jail. Eustace alleged in court that Espinoza led the victim into a room without camera surveillance and forced her to have sex.
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How Herrera and Smith allegedly staged their sexual encounters has not been publicly released. Sheriff's officials said they were consensual.
