Juvie Guard Guilty in Treats-for-Sex Case

(King County, Washington) In July 2006, a 34-year-old juvenile detention officer, Lydia Korolak, was charged with four felony counts of custodial sexual misconduct for luring teenage inmates into sex using special privileges, treats and threats.

From Seattle P-I:

The two teens -- both 17 at the time -- said Korolak visited them in their cells at the Youth Services Center.

According to court records, encounters with one of the victims, who said he received later bedtime hours and special food in exchange for sex, started in 2001. He initially did not view her overtures as a crime.

Another teen told investigators that he had sex with Korolak in 2002 because she told him she would report him as a troublemaker if he did not cooperate, court records said.

Yesterday, Korolak, now 35, pleaded guilty to two counts of felony custodial sexual misconduct with two teenage male inmates. The original four counts were consolidated into two.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 20th (different source says June 20th) by King County Superior Court Judge Charles Mertel. Korolak faces a possible 20 months in prison.


[Update 07/28/07]

Korolak sentenced.