Hendricks County work release officer charged for alleged sexual relationship with inmate

HENDRICKS COUNTY, Ind. — An officer at a work release center in Indiana is now facing charges for allegedly having a relationship with one of the inmates at the facility where he worked. Jeffery Alltop faces two counts of sexual misconduct and one count of official misconduct, according to online court records. A newly filed probable cause affidavit says the Hendricks County Sheriff's Office began investigating in 2023 when the director of the Hendricks County Work Release Facility reported accusations she had heard from other inmates. More in Crime The director allegedly told investigators she searched the inmate's phone and found a nude photo sent to a contact matching the cellphone number on file for Alltop. Alltop, at the time, was an officer at the facility, which is where inmates return to be monitored after being temporarily released so they can hold a job. When investigators interviewed Alltop, he allegedly admitted they had spent time together in his truck after he picked her up from her place of employment. Alltop also said he would take them to parking lots or parks, and when asked why, he allegedly replied, "Discretion… she's a resident and I work here so," court documents say. According to the affidavit, they had conversations that talked of sexual advances, but Alltop said they never actually did anything sexual. However, when investigators interviewed the inmates, she allegedly told them they did have sex — five to ten times, court documents say, every time they met up. According to the affidavit, she said she was the one who initiated contact. She allegedly told investigators, "I was in on it too and I don't want him to be branded as some bad guy." Documents also say investigators found multiple "sexually focused" conversations and talks of meeting up in person outside of the facility on the inmate's phone. The director of the facility also told investigators Alltop had previously worked at the facility prior to joining again in March 2023, documents say. The director also allegedly said Alltop was investigated several times under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), but they were all unsubstantiated. Alltop is scheduled to appear in court at noon Sept. 8.