The 27-year-old Bergom, of Belle Plaine, is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 29-year-old inmate at the Tama County Jail while she was still employed at the facility, according to a report from Cedar Rapids ABC affiliate KCRG-TV. The sexual relationship reportedly took place between September 2020 and April 2021. Court documents obtained by the station reportedly say that Bergom and the inmate, whose name was not released by authorities, had sex “on multiple occassions,” at least once “in a utility closet” and at least twice “in the recreation yard area of the jail,” as the report put it.
An employee with Tama County reportedly provided a tip to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation accusing Bergom of sexual misconduct. The Criminal Division opened an investigation into the matter which reportedly concluded in March. Weeks later, on April 20, Bergom was taken into custody by deputies with the Tama County Sheriff’s Department executing a warrant for her arrest. She was reportedly released later that day after posting bond.
Tama County Sheriff Dennis Kucera reportedly told The Gazette that Bergom immediately resigned after being charged with the crimes. She had reportedly been employed at the jail for three years prior to her resignation. Bergom in May entered a plea of not guilty to all three counts of sexual misconduct. If convicted, she faces a maximum of six years in a state prison.
