KINGMAN – Attorneys argued the merits of probation versus prison for a Kingman woman who had sex with inmates when she worked at the commissary at the state prison in Golden Valley. Genevieve Belden, 32, pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual conduct by a correctional employee.

Public Defender Greg Pridham said his client previously had a clean record and that Belden deserved a chance at probation. He said the inmates consented to sexual activity with Belden and suggested the crimes were without victims.

“This defendant needs to be punished and a deterrent message need be sent to others,” countered deputy Mohave County attorney Karolina Czaplinska. “That’s kind of the point here. This abuse of power that happened undermines public confidence in the criminal justice system.”

Czaplinska said there would be enormous public outcry if genders were reversed and a male corrections officer had sex with a female inmate.

Mohave County Superior Court Judge Rick Lambert said sexual activity in a prison environment destroys levels of trust that must exist between inmates and those who supervise or serve them. He ordered a six-month prison sentence for Belden, the same he imposed for a Golden Valley woman who also was convicted of having sex with an inmate in the commissary.

Lambert noted that both defendant’s illegal activity was captured by surveillance cameras that are prevalent in prisons.

“I want any corrections officer or correctional employee to know that if you engage in this type of behavior, there’s a very good chance that you’ll be caught,” Lambert said.

Dave Hawkins