Former Community Corrections Officer Gets Suspended Sentence In Escape Case
PLYMOUTH — A former Kosciusko County Community Corrections officer received a suspended sentence after removing a woman’s ankle bracelet and having sexual intercourse with her.
Patrick Donald Olson, 26, 207 Western Drive, Winona Lake, was charged with aiding/inducing/causing escape, a level 6 felony. A charge of sexual misconduct by a service provider, a level 5 felony, was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
The case went to Marshall County Superior Court I for sentencing, with Marshall County Judge Robert Bowen presiding. Kosciusko County judicial officials would normally be assigned to the case but recognized the existence of a conflict of interest.
Olson was hired as a home detention officer in April 2017.
On Aug. 4, 2017, a woman was sentenced to community corrections on home detention and was fitted with an ankle bracelet. Olson was assigned to monitor the woman but told his director that he had feelings for the offender. Olson was immediately removed from monitoring the woman and was told to have no further contact with her.
On Sept. 29, 2017, Olson removed the woman’s ankle bracelet and took her to Valparaiso for the weekend. After the trip, he brought her back home and replaced the ankle bracelet. Olson then told the community corrections director about removing the bracelet.
The woman told officers Olson was her case manager and that they spent two nights in a hotel and had sex.
Olson was sentenced to one year in the Indiana Department of Corrections, with 363 days suspended on probation. He has two days of jail time credit for the case.
Offenders who remove their home detention bracelet can face charges, but details about the woman’s circumstances were not available.