Mt. Pleasant prison counselor pleads guilty in contraband case

MT. PLEASANT — Former Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility counselor Kimberly Jo Kerr will avoid trial on two major felony charges after court records filed July 28 show she pleaded guilty to bringing contraband into the prison.

Kerr appeared personally with her attorney, Steve Ort, alongside prosecuting attorney Darin Stater, Henry County Attorney, at the Henry County Courthouse. She entered an open plea to Count II, Convey Contraband in or onto Grounds of a Correctional Facility (No Weapon), under Iowa Code Section 719.7(3)(b) and 719.7(4)(b).

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The court ordered a pre-sentence investigation by the Eighth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, with both sides to review the report at least three days before sentencing, set for 9 a.m. Sept. 22 at the Henry County Courthouse in Mt. Pleasant.

Charges were initially brought against Kerr in February 2025 when investigators allege she participated in ongoing criminal conduct and engaged in sexual exploitation of an inmate under her supervision between July and October 2024.

Investigators claimed Kerr smuggled contraband into the prison for an inmate, including, but not limited to, tobacco. Allegedly more than $5,600 was transferred via CashApp during the period of contraband sales.

The state's criminal complaint originally charged Kerr with Count I: Ongoing Criminal Conduct — Unlawful Activity (B felony), Count II: Possession/Conveyance of Contraband (D felony), and Count III: Sexual Exploitation by Counselor or Therapist (D felony).

As part of the plea agreement, counts I and III will be dismissed at her expense after the appeal period.

The most serious original count, ongoing criminal conduct, carries a potential penalty under Iowa Code Section 902.9 of up to 25 years in prison, plus fines up to $100,000 for non-habitual offenders. The sexual-exploitation charge, a Class D felony, carried the lesser penalties described above. Pleading to the contraband charge avoids exposure to those higher penalties for Kerr.

Under the agreement, Kerr will ask for a deferred judgment, however, if the deferred judgment is not granted at the Sept. 22 sentencing hearing, she could still face up to five years in prison for the Class D felony conviction. This conviction, according to Iowa Code 902.9, is accompanied by a fine of at least $1,250 and no more than $10,000.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com