Sentenced: Probation and conditional jail time for woman who worked in jail, charged with sexual assault

RACINE COUNTY (WITI) -- One of two women who worked at the Racine Correctional Institution -- charged with sexually assaulting an inmate has been sentenced.

Lisa Hawkins

34-year-old Lisa Hawkins of Salem initially faced a second degree sexual assault by correctional staff charge, and a resisting or obstructing an officer charge. She pleaded guilty to an amended misconduct in office - acting in excess of authority charge, and a resisting or obstructing an officer charge was dropped.

In court on Thursday, March 12th, Hawkins was sentenced to two years probation. She must serve 60 days in jail, conditional time. She must report to jail on March 28th.

Karina Herrera

The other woman charged in this case, 42-year-old Karina Herrera pleaded guilty to a second degree sexual assault by correctional staff charge. A delivering illegal articles to an inmate charge was dismissed.

Herrera has been sentenced to 18 months probation. She was also ordered to register with the Sex Offender Registry.

Investigators say 39-year-old Mario Barrios, who was convicted in 1995 of first-degree reckless homicide, says he was given a cell phone in 2012 by Karina Herrera.

According to the complaint, Herrera worked in the health services unit at the Racine Correctional Institution. In addition to giving Barrios the illegal phone, the complaint says the SD cards they uncovered had sexual images of Herrera on them -- and a video of her performing a sex act.

According to the criminal complaint, Barrios did try to flush the SD cards down the toilet before admitting to sexual contact with both women. Barrios is now serving his time at the Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution.

Investigators say Barrios also used the cell phone to record sexual contact with Hawkins. According to the complaint against Hawkins, she was a nurse for Guardian Health Care at the Racine Correctional Institution in 2012.

Related stories: