Omaha, NEBRASKA

Feb 26, 2008 - Gary Fowler, 48, a community college teacher who worked as an instructor at a Nebraska jail, was arrested Jan 16, accused of having sex with an inmate. He faces four felonies, including three counts of first-degree sexual abuse. In court today, he waived his preliminary hearing.

A court affidavit said on Dec. 28, corrections staff found Fowler in a locked office at the jail. The lights in the room were off. Jail personnel said a 47-year-old inmate who is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder was in the office with Fowler. Investigators searching the office said they found several items, including a bottle of body spray, condoms and DNA evidence.

The affidavit said the inmate told investigators the acts were consensual. But Fowler told the jail staff the inmate raped him. Investigators said a second inmate also claimed Fowler abused him. He told investigators that Fowler massaged or grabbed him inappropriately on several occasions.

Fowler is a contract employee of the community college.

SENTENCED October 14 - Fowler was ordered to serve two years of probation for having sex with a jail inmate.