Former Indiana parole agent admits having sexual contact with parolee

SPENCER -- Former state parole agent Joseph Granda, 47, of Brazil, pled guilty Tuesday morning in Owen Circuit Court I to a single count of official misconduct, a level 6 felony. Agent Granda, who worked out of the Terre Haute Parole District, was arrested after an internal investigation conducted by officers from the Indiana Department of Correction.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Jaime Raderstorf with Department of Correction, officers were alerted to the allegations of misconduct by Indiana State Police Det. Stacy Brown and Owen County Prosecutor Don VanDerMoere.

The allegations involved sexual contact between Agent Granda and one of the female parolees who he was supervising.

Department of Correction officials met with the attorney of the reporting parolee and learned that the encounter had been videotaped. Officers secured and reviewed the video and later called a meeting with Agent Granda at the Indiana State Police Post in Putnamville. Officers were able to confirm that the incident occurred in Spencer during July 2014 when the parolee was being supervised by Agent Granda and during a time in which she had an active warrant for her arrest for an unrelated offense out of the Owen Circuit Court I.

After the interview, Agent Granda was placed into custody and transported to the Owen County Jail.

Owen County Prosecutor VanDerMoere said Granda was given a 730-day sentence and was placed on probation. The terms of Granda's probation require him to complete 56 hours of community service, attend and complete recommended counseling and to have no-contact with the named victim.

VanDerMoere advised that following the investigation, Granda lost his job with the Department of Correction and that as a convicted felon, Granda will not be able to serve in any law enforcement capacity.