- A prison employee was sentenced to three years probation for “sexually abusing” an inmate
- Samantha Cedillo, 32, had an ongoing inappropriate relationship with a convicted murderer, 47, at the Omaha Correctional Center
- Investigators discovered that Cedillo gave birth to the inmate's child
A Nebraska prison worker who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing an inmate and giving birth to his child has been sentenced to three years probation.
Samantha Cedillo worked at the Omaha Correctional Center as a non-clinical program manager as of June 2021.
Cedillo, then 31, was charged in 2023 with first-degree sexual assault of an inmate, which carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
The charges came after the prison employee had an inappropriate relationship with an inmate, James Price, who was serving time for murder, which resulted in her becoming pregnant with his child.
In November 2021, prison staff were informed that Cedillo was in a relationship with a library employee – a 47-year-old man serving a life sentence for murder.
A Nebraska prison employee, Samantha Cedillo (pictured), who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing an inmate and giving birth to his child, was sentenced Tuesday to three years probation
Cedillo, then 31, was charged in 2023 with first-degree sexual assault of an inmate, which carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years
The couple was documented to have had at least 10 questionable interactions or behavioral infractions within a four-month period.
Cedillo received a warning and the inmate was removed from his position as a library employee, but the pair continued to meet behind closed doors in her office.
In one case in March 2022, Cedillo was seen on surveillance camera removing her radio belt as the couple moved behind the office door, out of view of the camera.
Cedillo was reportedly seen by another officer rushing back to her chair with her shirt open and her hair disheveled.
After Cedillo was asked to write a report on the incident, she instead resigned from her position.
Investigators later discovered a baby registry that Cedillo had created with a due date in mid-December, nine months after the couple was caught in March.
The couple messaged each other using an illegal phone owned by the inmate, discussing their child and their “love.”
After Cedillo's baby was born, investigators obtained a search warrant for a DNA test that proved the inmate was indeed the father.
It is a felony for an employee or contractor of a state prison facility or city/county jail to subject an inmate to sexual contact, regardless of “consent.”
The charges came after the prison employee had an inappropriate relationship with an inmate, James Price, who was serving time for murder, which resulted in her becoming pregnant with his child
Samantha Cedillo worked at the Omaha Correctional Center as a non-clinical program manager as of June 2021
Cedillo wiped away tears as she was sentenced in court Tuesday by District Judge LeAnne Srb.
“This is a disturbing case,” Srb told Cedillo, with her attorney James McGough at her side. “What happened here shouldn’t have happened.”
Srb said she believes Cedillo fought a tough battle in life but ultimately took responsibility for her actions.