Ex-prison guard faces up to 15 years for having sex with inmates

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A former prison guard at the federal prison camp in Bryan, Texas, pleaded guilty to charges today that he sexually abused two inmates.

Marshall Thomas, 35, of College Station, was accused of having sex with two different inmates in July 2014 while he was employed as a correctional officer.

Beginning in March 2014, Thomas began supervising a female inmate at federal prison camp, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas. Soon after, it says, Thomas began making inappropriate comments to the inmate and began to hug, kiss and touch her inappropriately whenever they would be alone. Authorities say on July 19, 2014, Thomas told the woman to go into the back of the dry storage room behind several boxes where Thomas kissed her and then initiated sex. She says she resisted, but he had sex with her anyway, according to the attorney's office.

Authorities add that Thomas told her that if she reported any of what happened he would "flag" her and that "it was his career and her good time."

On the same day, the attorney's office says Thomas supervised another inmate who he also pursued. The office says while she was in the kitchen getting something to eat, Thomas told her to go another room where he began to kiss her and attempted to engage in sex. Authorities say when she resisted, he assaulted her.

A judge accepted Thomas' guilty plea today to two counts of sexual abuse of a ward. Sentencing is set for April 1.

Thomas faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.

Thomas is out on bond pending the hearing.