By Tracy Harmon
The Pueblo Chieftain
CANON CITY, Colo. — A 57-year-old former Colorado Department of Corrections officer who was serving a jail sentence for attempting to sexually assault inmates died at the Fremont County jail just one week into his sentence.
Gregory Smith, 57, of Colorado Springs, pleaded guilty to two amended counts of attempted sexual assault prior to being sentenced March 2 and started a 100-day jail sentence March 3.
At about 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Smith, who was working in the jail kitchen, collapsed and fell to the ground, according to Fremont County sheriff’s Detective Megan Richards.
“Jail medical staff performed CPR,” until ambulance staff arrived and took over. “Smith was transported to St. Thomas More Hospital where he was pronounced dead,” Richards said.
An autopsy was performed and results are pending. An investigation is ongoing, Richards said.
“I cannot give absolute manner of death but it appears there is no foul play involved and there is not a problem within our jail. I am awaiting final autopsy results and it will be a few weeks before I get them,” said Randy Keller, Fremont County coroner.
Smith had worked as a correctional officer for a decade and was working at the state-run Arrowhead prison here when he was accused of making inappropriate sexual advances on several inmates. Only three of the inmates were willing to come forward and talk about the incidents, a prosecutor said during Smith’s sentencing March 2.
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