Case of jail nurse accused of inappropriate sexual contact with inmates continued

The case of a former male nurse at the county jail charged with making inappropriate sexual contacts with female inmates has been continued until July 21.

Ben Burnett, the attorney for 41-year-old Samuel J. Sparks of Mountain Home, asked for the continuance during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Monday (May 5).

Burnett has said negotiations with the state were continuing in an effort to settle the case without the need for a jury trial.

Sparks worked at the detention center from January 25, 2022,until he was terminated August 7, 2023.

According to the sheriff’s office, Sparks is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). He was responsible for providing nursing care to inmates, dispensing medications as prescribed, coordinating inmate sick call requests to see the Nurse Practitioner and following up with aftercare recommended by the Nurse Practitioner.

According to information on the State Board of Nursing website, Sparks’ license was surrendered voluntarily with the basis of the action listed as sexual misconduct.

On August 4, 2023, a female inmate made a complaint that Sparks had engaged in inappropriate contact of a sexual nature with her in the detention center.

An investigation was launched into the inmate’s allegations. Three inmates or former inmates were interviewed on the same day the initial complaint was made.

In all, 10 inmates sat for interviews. They are identified in the probable cause affidavit by initials only.

According to the sheriff’s office, accusations of inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature were made against Sparks by more than one of the inmates questioned.

At one point, Sparks told investigators he had conducted what he described as “breast examinations” of female inmates at their request. He said the exams were done as part of his duties as a jail nurse.

Investigators found that Sparks had made no notes in inmate medical charts of the “requested” breast examinations.

Several conversations between Sparks and inmates contained references to quid pro quo arrangements. In more than one instance, Sparks is reported to have basically said, “here’s what I can do for you — what can you do for me?”

One inmate told investigators she had requested a Tylenol and warm compress from Sparks to treat an eye problem. She said he asked her what she intended to do for him and she said she did not plan to do anything for him.

Sparks is alleged to have said, “that’s not how it works in here. If you do stuff for me, I will do stuff for you.”

He told investigators during an interview that much of the back-and-forth banter about the quid pro quo arrangements in the jail “was just me joking around.”

Investigators contacted a Nurse Practitioner who works with the jail nursing staff and she said she would never ask the jail nurses to complete a breast examination. She said that was something the jail nurses should not do.”

Sparks had been free on $5,000 bond.

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