Wiccan prison chaplain will stand trial

OSHKOSH - A judge decided Thursday that an Oshkosh prison chaplain will stand trial for allegedly sexually assaulting an inmate and drugging him during a staged hostage situation.

Jamyi Witch is a Wiccan chaplain at the state prison in Oshkosh. She faces three charges in connection with the alleged hostage situation at the prison last month.

Witch sat with her head in her hands during witness testimony. The alleged victim, an Oshkosh prison inmate, took the stand.

It is FOX 11's policy not to identify sexual assault victims.

The inmate testified he and Witch, in June, started plotting a way to be transferred to different facilities, since they were both unhappy at Oshkosh.

"She told me, due to my mental health background, that if I came up there, and acted like she was my mother, then I was going to be out of Oshkosh right away and that's what I thought," the inmate testified.

The prison went on lockdown Aug. 10, during what authorities believed to be a hostage situation.

"We started covering the door and taking stuff off the shelves," the inmate said.

The inmate testified he wasn't expecting to stage a hostage situation.

"This is all her plan," explained the inmate. "Only thing I know is that I knew Ms. Witch eight to ten years. Throughout that time, I gained a lot of respect and a lot of trust for her, so when she told me, you know what I'm saying, that I was not going to get into any trouble and that this would not be a hostage situation, you know what I mean? I took her word for it and that's why I went up there."

During the time in her office, Witch and the inmate allegedly had sexual relations. State law prohibits employees from having sexual relations with inmates. Witch was charged with second degree sexual assault by corrections staff.

"Under the statute, an inmate can't consent to sexual intercourse with a staff member, there's an inherent sense that there's pressure, lack of free will," said prosecutor Scott Ceman.

Witch would not comment on the case after the hearing. However, according to the criminal complaint, Witch told authorities the inmate cornered her in her office, wouldn't let her leave and forced her to perform sexual acts. Her defense attorney also wouldn't answer any questions from reporters.

In addition to sexual assault, Witch also faces a drug charge and as well as a delivery of illegal articles to an inmate charge. Witch allegedly provided the inmate with prescription drugs to make him sleepy.

Witch is currently on paid administrative leave.

She is scheduled to enter a plea on Oct. 21.