A former kitchen worker at the Deschutes County jail has pleaded guilty to having sex with an inmate.

April Ann Hoisington-Kite, 44, of Bend, entered her plea to one count of first-degree custodial sexual misconduct Tuesday in Deschutes County Circuit Court. Other counts of first-degree custodial sexual misconduct and supplying contraband for sneaking chewing tobacco into the jail have been dismissed.

Hoisington-Kite had sex with inmate Stephen Rechner at the jail between Oct. 1 and Nov. 1. The two met in the kitchen area and developed a relationship, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

Rechner, 39, of Redmond, is in jail on a parole violation. He was convicted of methamphetamine possession in August.

Court records show Rechner also was convicted of third-degree rape, second-degree sex abuse and endangering the welfare of a minor in September 2014. His criminal history includes convictions of identity theft, third-degree theft and strangulation.

“I unlawfully and knowingly engaged in deviate sexual intercourse with Stephen Rechner, knowing Stephen Rechner was confined or detained in a correctional facility,” Hoisington-Kite wrote in her plea petition to the court.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Monday. The maximum sentence Hoisington-Kite could face is five years in prison and a $125,000 fine.

Hoisington-Kite was originally cited and released Nov. 1 on two counts of custodial sexual misconduct and supplying contraband. Part of her release agreement from jail was to not have contact with Rechner.

She violated the release agreement by communicating with Rechner multiple times through text messages and phone calls made from the jail between Dec. 28 and Jan. 7.

The no-contact violation led to her arrest Jan. 12, but she was released two days later when she posted $1,000 of her $10,000 bail.

Hoisington-Kite was a contract employee through Aramark, a company that provides food and uniform services to businesses and public facilities, according to the sheriff’s office.

She has not been allowed back in the jail through that employment.

— Reporter: 541-617-7820, kspurr@bendbulletin.com