Strafford County Jail guard accused of having sex with multiple female inmates

The accused faces up to 45 years on the three most serious charges (Courtesy photo)

DOVER - A Strafford County Jail guard is accused of using his authority as a correctional officer to obtain sexual favors from multiple female inmates over a period of time stretching from November 2019 to March 2020.
Patrick Shaeffer, 42, of 193 Old Turnpike Road, Nottingham, is facing decades in prison if convicted, according to the charging documents, which allege he "engaged in sexual (contact) with another person when the defendant had direct supervisory, disciplinary or other authority authorized by law over or direct responsibility for maintaining detention of the victim."
During the four-month span that ended around the start of the pandemic, Shaeffer is alleged to have had sexual relations with four different women, three of which included sexual intercourse, while another three were related to "sexual contact." He is also accused of two attempted felonious sex assaults.
In all Schaeffer stands charged with three Class A felonies that each carry up to a 15-year sentence and five Class B felonies that carry up to a seven-year sentence.
The Strafford County grand jury indictments were handed down on Oct. 19 and released on Monday.
An indictment is not an indication of guilt, rather that enough evidence has been presented to move forward to trial.
This story will be updated.