Juvenile correctional officer charged with making sexual contact with 16-year-old inmate

EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A juvenile correctional officer in Edinburg was indicted by a grand jury accused of having sexual contact with a 16-year-old inmate, authorities said.

_{Todd Hanks (Hidalgo County Jail)}

Todd Hanks, 53, was indicted on charges of indecency with a child and violation of the civil rights of a person in custody; improper sexual activity with a person in custody, a news release from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department stated.

According to the release, Hanks was a juvenile correctional officer at Evins Regional Juvenile Center in Edinburg.

Authorities said that on June 29, 2021, Hanks allegedly engaged in sexual contact with the 16-year-old, who was in custody at the time. Hanks was arrested shortly afterwards.

According to the release, both charges carry a sentence of between two and 20 years in state jail.