Corrections officer accused of inmate sex

A male correctional officer of the Leo Chesney Community Correctional Facility for women in Live Oak was arrested on suspicion of having sex with an inmate, a Sutter County prosecutor said Friday.

Mark Steven Susoeff, 45, of the 1700 block of Deborah Lane, East Linda, was arrested at 1 p.m. Thursday at his residence and booked into Yuba County Jail, where bail was set at $15,000. He was no longer being held Friday.

Susoeff was arrested after an investigation by the Internal Affairs Division of the California Department of Corrections, said Sutter County Assistant District Attorney Fred Schroeder.

The minimum security facility is owned and operated by a private firm, Cornell Companies Inc. of Houston, Tex., but overseen by the state.

Susoeff allegedly had sex with the inmate, who was not named, on two occasions, once in January and once in March.

Leo Chesney Director Paula Ford said she could not comment and referred questions to Cornell spokesman Charles Seigel.

Seigel said the company and state officials began investigating after the inmate reported the incidents. Susoeff was then placed on administrative leave, he said.

Like other employees, Susoeff underwent a background check before being hired, said Seigel.

“We believe they’re good but you can’t prevent everything like this,” he said.

Seigel declined to say how long Susoeff worked at the facility.

Susoeff has an unlisted telephone number and could not be reached for comment.

A correctional officer who has sex with an inmate can be charged either with a misdemeanor or felony. If convicted, the sentence can range from 16 months to three years incarceration, said Schroeder.

No court date for Susoeff had been set Friday.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Rob Young can be reached at 749-4710. You may e-mail him at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com.