CLEARFIELD – A prison teacher accused of having a romantic relationship with an inmate waived her right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge James Hawkins during Centralized Court Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.
Rebecca J. Williams, 55, of Houtzdale is facing charges of institutional sexual assault and official oppression-arrest search, etc. Her bail has been set at $25,000 unsecured.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections’ Office of Special Investigations and Intelligence (OSII) reviewed information from the State Correctional Institution at Houtzdale regarding an Adult Basic Education Teacher, Williams, who was allegedly involved in a “personal and romantic relationship” with an inmate.
The inmate reported that while incarcerated at SCI-Houtzdale, he developed a relationship with Williams after giving her a homemade Halloween card last year. He worked as a tutor in Williams’ classroom, where they exchanged notes of a “personal and sexual nature” and engaged in physical contact.
Sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas of last year, the inmate alleged Williams touched his genitalia at least 10 times in a sexual manner, including skin-to-skin contact. In addition, he alleged Williams kissed his exposed genitalia on at least four occasions.
According to the inmate, he and Williams kissed on the lips almost every day until approximately two weeks prior to being given his release date of Feb. 7. He alleged that Williams also gave him at least three, partially nude photographs of her breasts and genitalia, which revealed identifiable scars. The inmate alleged that Williams gave him a black onyx ring on Jan. 29, which she told him represented “a commitment of her love and affection.” He also alleged that Williams told him she had reserved a room in Shillington, where they would meet for a “sexual liaison” after his release.
On Jan. 31, Williams said she’d developed a relationship with the inmate, while he worked daily under her direction as a tutor in her classroom. She said she experienced a “natural” attraction toward him and began sharing personal information about herself. Williams said she regularly flirted with the inmate at which point their messages became more intimate. She said this evolved into her providing elicit photographs of her, sexual contact and promises to be together upon his release from prison in February.
Williams said all physical and sexual contact with the inmate occurred within her classroom. She said she gave the inmate a black onyx ring on Jan. 29 as a “token of her love.” Williams also confirmed she’d made a hotel reservation for her and the inmate to continue “sexual exploits” once he was released.
Williams relinquished more than 50 handwritten notes exchanged with the inmate, which she acknowledged contained references to their physical and sexual contact. A store receipt was also provided for the black onyx ring, and hotel officials confirmed Williams’ reservations on Feb. 7.
