Prison official faces sex charge, had relationship with convicted child killer

A state corrections officer faces criminal charges alleging that he had a sexual affair with convicted child killer Monique Maestas, the Las Vegas Review-Journal has learned.

Correctional officer Eugenio Dimas, 51, faces one count each of misconduct of a public officer and voluntary sexual conduct between a prisoner and another person, both felonies.

Dimas did not appear in court for a brief hearing Thursday and is not in custody. A status check was set for next month. His lawyer, Damian Sheets, did not return a call requesting comment.

The criminal complaint, filed Feb. 14 by the state attorney general’s office, alleges the sexual affair took place between Sept. 25 and Oct. 14 at the Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center in Las Vegas.

Maestas helped her older brother in 2003 stab a 3-year-old girl to death and paralyze her 10-year-old half-sister because the girls’ mother and her boyfriend sold them fake methamphetamine, which turned out to be salt, for $125.

Court documents show prison officials learned of the sexual relationship when Maestas’ friend, inmate Rachal Sanders, warned a prison commander that Maestas, 26, might attack, in a jealous rage, another inmate who was flirting with Dimas.

“On October 16, 2012, at approximately 7:00 p.m., inmate Maestas told me that she was very upset and wanted to flash on (slang for physically attack) another inmate because she was giggling and talking with Officer Dimas,” Sanders wrote in a statement.

Maestas told Sanders that she was sleeping with Dimas and that they often spoke on the phone at night. Dimas also gave Maestas pictures and a silver pendant of an Egyptian cross known as an ankh, Sanders said.

Authorities soon discovered Dimas’ cellphone number written on a Post-it note in Maestas’ cell and confronted the inmate.

During the first of three interviews, Maestas denied a relationship with Dimas, but then admitted calling him.

Finally, during the third interview, she admitted having a sexual relationship with the officer.

Maestas later passed a polygraph exam during which she described the intimate details of their relationship, court documents show.

Another inmate, Cassandra Thomas, said she, too, flirted with Dimas, and she said other officers would “mess with girls in here, and I’m one of them.”

Thomas named two other officers who would “cross the line” with inmates.

Inmate Carrie Kincaid named another two officers who would “cross boundaries.”

“Kincaid denied witnessing any sexual activity but stated the officers are ‘too comfortable’ with inmates and noticed Dimas ‘hangs out’ talking to inmates and the officers have become very ‘lax, the inmates are younger and do not have respect for themselves or officers,’ ” according to court documents.

So far, of the five officers alleged to have had inappropriate contact with prisoners, only Dimas has been charged.

During an interview with state investigators, Dimas denied the relationship but admitted giving Maestas the pendant, pictures of himself and his family with his cellphone number.

The investigation found that “Officer Dimas was heard telling Maestas he loved her, missed her, would kiss her all over, made plans for the future and indicated they would be together,” court documents show.

The Nevada Department of Corrections did not respond to a request for Dimas’ current employment status.

Court documents show he was placed on administrative leave Oct. 18, two days after authorities learned of the relationship allegations.

If convicted, Dimas could face probation or one to four years in prison.

Maestas is serving two life prison terms with the possibility of parole after 47 years for the brutal attack in Mesquite.

Her brother, Beau Maestas, was sentenced to death.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at
fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.