ASHEVILLE, North Carolina — A McDowell County man who worked as a corrections officer at a women’s prison in Black Mountain faces a felony charge after he was accused of having sexual contact with an incarcerated woman under his supervision.
James Allen Mathes, 66, has been charged with a felony sex act by an institution employee with a person in custody. Following his arrest, Mathes was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Center. While one record notes a secured bond of $50,000, other tracking details indicate he is being held without bond.
The alleged victim in the case is a 32-year-old woman currently serving a sentence of seven to 10 years at the Western Correctional Center for Women. According to the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, she was convicted in 2020 of intentional child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury.
Mathes started his employment at the Western Correctional Center for Women on September 9, 2019, earning a salary of $48,953. Department of Adult Correction spokesperson Keith Acree stated that Mathes’ last active day on the job was May 8, 2026. Instead of facing termination, Mathes was permitted to retire, with his retirement becoming effective on June 1.
The criminal case developed after a Prison Rape Elimination Act complaint was submitted to prison administrators. The facility warden subsequently referred the matter for criminal prosecution, and the state correction department requested that the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office spearhead the investigation in early May.
Adult Correction Secretary Leslie Dismukes issued a statement emphasizing that the agency maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding staff members who engage in inappropriate behavior with individuals in state custody. Dismukes also expressed gratitude to the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with the investigation.
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