HURRICANE — A Purgatory Jail employee faces felony charges after police say she had a sexual relationship with an inmate.

Stephanie Alldredge, 35, worked in the jail's public reception area and met a female inmate in July, said St. George Police Sgt. James Van Fleet. The inmate was on work release and had to check in at the reception area after her shift.

"They started getting to know each other," Van Fleet said. "The relationship got more intimate."

In August, Alldredge twice met the inmate for sex at her home, police said. Inmates on work release are allowed some time after their shifts to return home to wash their work clothes, Van Fleet said.

Alldredge has been charged with two counts of custodial sexual relations, a third-degree felony.

"Even though (Alldredge) is a civilian, she cannot have a relationship of this nature with an inmate," Van Fleet said. "It's unfortunate for the jail that an employee made this decision."

The name of the inmate has not been released.