Charges reduced for Work Camp employee

A female employee of the Idaho Department of Corrections at the St. Anthony Work Camp faced a Rexburg judge on charges of having sexual contact with an adult inmate.

Tina Marie McClure, 51, was to be arraigned Monday on a felony charge that could have had her looking at life in prison and up to $50,000 fine.

Reports claim McClure had sexual relations with a 32-year-old prisoner from Jan. 2016 to Feb. 2016.

Judge Greg Moeller granted the Madison County prosecutor Sid Brown a motion to lessen the charge to a misdemeanor battery charge.

Brown requested to amend the felony criminal complaint to misdemeanor battery, with the understanding McClure would plead guilty to the misdemeanor charge.

After considerable discussion, Judge Moeller granted the motion, explaining, “Law is clear that these kind of charging decisions are up to the prosecuting attorney, not up to the court.”

Brown then explained circumstances surrounding the case and why a lesser charge would be suitable.

“It’s a case-by-case basis. McClure did not have any priors. The likelihood of the defendant re-offending is also very low,” Brown said.

He also said, ” McClure did not act in a predatory manner.”

Brown said the next step taken by the magistrate court will be to set a date for McClure to make her plea of guilty.

A magistrate court handles misdemeanor charges.