A supervisor at a substance-abuse and corrections residence in St. Paul carried on a monthslong sexual relationship with one of the inmates, having encounters during at least one visit to Regions Hospital and elsewhere for several months this year, charges say.

Karen M. Watson, 28, of St. Paul, who worked at RS Eden on W. 7th Street, was charged Monday in Ramsey County District Court with third-degree criminal sexual conduct that spanned from January until mid-April.

Watson and the 26-year-old resident, housed there as he awaited sentencing in federal court, first had sex at Regions Hospital, where he was being treated for sickle cell anemia, according to the criminal complaint. They also had sex at the residence and in her car, the complaint continued.

She gave him money to buy a phone, allowing him to record them having sex at the hospital on video, according to the court document.

Watson was fired from RS Eden, which contracts for its services with federal, state and county corrections agencies. Her duties included supervising inmates, and maintaining security and sanitation, the complaint read.

The charge was filed by summons. Watson is scheduled to appear in court on July 12. She has yet to hire an attorney, and public records offered no contact information for her.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482