A federal corrections officer in Alabama agreed to plead guilty to charges that he had sex with a female inmate in a laundry room and asked a co-worker to lie about it, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Eric Todd Ellis was a guard at The Federal Correctional Institution in Aliceville when he had sexual intercourse with the inmate in the prison’s laundry room on June 11, 2020, AL.com reported.

 

Ellis is charged with sex abuse of an adult ward in custody and intimidation or force against a witness. Ellis reportedly asked the coworker to help cover up the crime.

 

Ellis reportedly had admitted the sex act to a co-worker in a recorded call.

A judge has yet to accept the plea. If that happens, sentencing will be set.

Ellis faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the sex abuse charge and up to 20 years in prison and fine of no more than $250,000 on the witness intimidation charge.