KATELYN GOMEZ

      Last Wednesday, detectives arrested a Juvenile Justice Detention Center Sergeant for soliciting sexual activity with a juvenile inmate.

Detectives responded to the Pinellas Regional Juvenile Detention Center,
5255 140th Avenue, North, in Clearwater, after approximately ten
inappropriate letters were found in the bed of a sixteen-year-old male inmate.

Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives learned that 27-year-old,  Sergeant Katelyn Gomez wrote the letters.

The letters explicitly described what would take place during their first sexual encounter and described an ongoing relationship, which had developed while the victim was incarcerated. There was also a photo of Gomez in the victim’s cell.

Detectives said Gomez was hired as a Sergeant on January 5, 2024, and was
assigned to the victim’s pod three weeks ago.  Additionally, Gomez was
instructed to not be alone with the juveniles, however staff members observed
her one-on-one with the victim several times.

Detectives interviewed Gomez, who admitted to writing the letters to the
victim and stated she began developing a relationship with him when they met
at the facility several weeks ago. Gomez admitted that she fantasized about
having a sexual relationship with the victim and planned to build a life with
him once he was released.

Gomez was arrested and charged with one count of solicitation of a child to
engage in an act that constitutes sexual battery by a person in familial or
custodial authority. She was booked into the Pinellas County Jail.

The investigation is continuing.