Jennifer Parker, 43, of Lisbon was indicted on charges of third-degree rape, third-degree criminal sexual act, second-degree promoting prison contraband, forcible touching, and official misconduct. She pleaded not guilty in St. Lawrence County Court today.

State Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced the indictment today.

Parker is charged with engaging in various sexual acts over the course of several years with multiple inmates who worked for her at the jail, and who, by state law, are incapable of consent.

Parker was arraigned today before the Honorable Jerome J. Richards in St. Lawrence County Court. She pleaded not guilty and was released to supervision by probation authorities.

Parker was the head cook at the county jail in Canton from August 2010 until she resigned from her position in June 2018. Parker’s duties and responsibilities as head cook included managing and supervising civilian employees and inmates who worked in the kitchen.

A joint investigation by the Attorney General’s office and the New York State Police Special Investigations Unit in Syracuse culminated in a 16-count indictment charging Parker with three felony counts of rape in the third degree and five felony counts of criminal sexual act in the third degree. Each of the felony counts carries a sentence of up to four years in state prison.

Parker was also charged with one misdemeanor count of promoting prison contraband in the second degree, two misdemeanor counts of forcible touching, and five misdemeanor counts of official misconduct, each carrying a sentence of up to one year in jail.

According to filed documents and statements made in court today, Parker allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse, oral sex, and other sexual misconduct with three inmates on multiple occasions roughly between 2011 and 2014.

“At the time of each of the alleged sexual encounters, the inmates were committed to the care and custody of the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility, and further, were under the direct supervision and control of the defendant, as each inmate worked in the kitchen at the St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility,” the statement from the attorney general’s office said.