Ex-jailer pleads guilty to malfeasance

A former Morgan City jailer accused of sexually groping a female inmate pleaded guilty to malfeasance in office and was put on five years of supervised probation by 16th Judicial District Judge Edward Leonard Jr.
Justin Palmature, 25, of Morgan City pleaded guilty on April 22. He was also given a five-year suspended prison sentence. He was additionally fined $2,000 and ordered to perform 80 hours of community service. Leonard ordered Palmature to undergo a mental evaluation within 15 days of his sentencing and successfully complete all recommendations for his treatment.
Palmature was arrested Dec. 13, 2013, after an investigation of “inappropriate contact with a 28-year-old female inmate,” a Morgan City police news release stated.
A female prisoner accused Palmature of “kissing her forcibly while groping her breast” while in the elevator going to the nurses station, the affidavit for arrest said. She accused Palmature of “flirting” with other female inmates and making sexually explicit comments to her, the affidavit said.
Palmature admitted to kissing the victim on two separate occasions and groping various parts of the victim’s body, the affidavit said.
Palmature had been employed by Morgan City police as a correctional officer for about three months prior to the incident. He was placed on paid administrative leave, then resigned on Dec. 16, Police Chief Michael Banks Jr. said.