Updated
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office says an internal investigation into whether a jail guard had an inappropriate relationship with an inmate is nearing its end, although the corrections officer has turned in his resignation.
Jamie Rees, who had worked at the Lewis County Jail a little more than a year, was placed on paid administrative leave in early August, according to the sheriff’s office. He quit about a week later, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.
“We were unable to find evidence he was involved with her while she was in the jail,” Brown said.
However, after the inmate’s release, the sheriff’s office concluded through surveillance of Rees’ home in Centralia that the woman was living with him, Brown said.
Corrections officers and other employees of the sheriff’s office, are prohibited by policy from having relationships with known felons, according to Brown. Such conduct jeopardizes the jail, the sheriff’s office and the employee, she said.
Rees, 32, resigned when confronted, according to Brown.
The former inmate – a 24-year-old Centralia woman – was sentenced in February to six months in jail in connection with a bar fight a month earlier in which she stabbed another woman who attacked her, reportedly with a pair of brass knuckles. She had no prior felonies.
The initial complaint came not from the young woman, but from an anonymous source, according to Brown.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
to all those that have words of either encouragement or condemnation all i have to offer are these words to all parties involved: jamie………much love and respect for you and all that you are and stand for…it is a shame that this has the potential to jeopardize all that you have worked so hard for but please trust and believe that it is always greater later……. to those that do not know the real get your facts before passing words that your mouth cannot or will not cash real talk…majority of lcj’s staff are only a finger of being found out for all that they do themselves…it is only a matter of time…love u both
I do believe that there is much more to this story. I know all the parties involved and all I can say is please request the public disclosure on this case when it is closed. Then the true facts of why Officer Rees resigned will come out. There is no reason for an “innocent” man to resign from such a prestigious job if there was not a significant amount of evidence against him. I realize that that is what he and Ms. Castillo would like you all to believe but there were several complaints of Officer Rees’s unethical conduct from several parties ranging from her own family members to Jamies’s ex-fiancé to other law enforcement agencies. And from what I know Ms. Castillo’s family member was the one who started this investigation. Fact check the story I think a lot of you will be surprised on why he resigned. Though I am sure he likes playing the victim, he is far from it. Innocent people do not resign.
Aries, you put that out there nicely. Very kind and very encouraging, and obviously from the heart. Im sure they will help encourage him to stay strong and hopefully stand his ground. He has done nothing to be ashamed of, quite the opposite actually. I wish them the best of luck. And Im sure that finding another job will not be a problem. If an employer chooses his skills and ability make him the best choice for a open position, chances are his motives for leaving his last job arent going to matter. Not everyone is cynical and nasty. Thank God! Sappy but true.
It amazes me how people are so quick to judge others. I read Lewis County Sirens to try and stay current on what to be aware in my home county. I imagine you are all perfect and haven’t done anything in your life that could label you a “felon”. Officer Rees is a man of admirable character and extreme kindness. “Red” criticizing and calling “Required Name” sappy for hoping this situation works out for the best because the woman was in custody for a felony is ridiculous and judgmental. She must be unworthy of a loving and healthy relationship because she is a “felon” right?? I’d bet you’ve committed many felonies in your life you just haven’t been caught. The fact that she was even charged for defending her life shows how screwed up our legal system is. Although this article is vague on details, as it should be because these are human beings and their personal lives should remain private, remember it says they were unable to find evidence he was involved with her while she was in custody. Could that be because NONE EXISTED?! What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Jamie if you are following these insignificant rambling of uneducated and uniformed people (no I’m not judging, simple observation) know you are loved and respected by those that matter and you are doing an amazing job raising those beautiful children! God possibly has a different direction for your career but I commend you for not letting these posts affect you or your future. I wouldn’t worry too much about what is being said here especially considering it took longer to translate the posts then typing this paragraph. I’m sure you’ll find another job you’ll enjoy “cuz u gonna get hired cuz ya ain’t justa peice of azz.”
If you manage to find the woman who can reportedly “stab” a person with brass knuckles, I would loose my job for her too.
Well, hope this isn’t just another peice of ass for ya!!! Cuz,what u gonna do when she finds the next guy to shack up with that had money car n good job, sure sounds like she was looking for bennifits from the sheriff while locked up,then after figured Oh money! “” I pray for u jaimie she is sincere about creating family with u!! U won’t get a job in law again now your a liability,
so sorry for u now Jaime. Your going to have baby with her & take care of her 2 kids also!! WITH NO JOB.. You will never get hired in a trust worthy job again.. so sad 🙁
Wow!!!! That’s Lewis county hope it was worth loosing your career cuz who gonna hire u now
required: Not only are you sappy, your priorities are questionable. THE INMATE, (children’s mother?) was in custody for a felony, DUH?
I sure hope for the kids’ sake that she was trying to have a stable home, though shacking up and causing the new boyfriend to lose his job doesn’t sound too promising. At least he owned up to it and quit, rather than kick her out. I hope it works out for the best, at least for the kids.