Michelle Renee Valenti, 30, of Fort Dodge, entered her plea in a written arraignment in Webster County District Court on Friday.

Valenti is charged with permitting a prisoner to escape, introducing contraband, introducing electronic contraband and furnishing a controlled substance, all Class D felonies. She is also charged with the aggravated misdemeanor of sexual misconduct with offenders.

A trial date has not yet been set.

According to the trial information, Valenti’s alleged crimes spanned from October 2021 to December 2021.

On the night of Saturday, Dec. 11, staff at the Webster County Jail reported the escape of inmate Jordan Mefferd, 43, of Fort Dodge. Mefferd was located a few hours later and taken back into custody around 1:30 a.m. Dec. 12. Mefferd was charged with escape, a Class D felony, and eluding, a Class C felony.

Through the subsequent investigation into the jailbreak, investigators found evidence that Valenti was present in the control room and was the only individual with access to the controls capable of unlocking the door that was used by Mefferd to exit onto the bridge between the Law Enforcement Center and the Webster County Courthouse. She later admitted to her role in the escape to investigators.

Valenti also admitted to investigators to performing “multiple sex acts” with a different inmate of the jail. The inmate, who has not been named by investigators, also admitted to the conduct.

During subsequent searches of the jail, a cigarette lighter was found in a common area of the jail floor, garnering the contraband charge. Valenti and the other male inmate also admitted to Valenti providing marijuana to the inmate.

Valenti also allegedly supplied a cell phone to inmates in the jail, including Mefford.

If convicted of the sexual misconduct charge, Valenti would be required to register with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry.