Correction officer Jeff Bromley, one of three prison employees charged with having sexual contact with a female inmate at the Janet S. York Correctional Institution, began a 90-day prison sentence Tuesday after pleading no contest to a reduced charge in New London Superior Court.

Bromley, 47, of Willimantic, pleaded no contest to second-degree unlawful restraint, a Class A misdemeanor, accepting a plea deal negotiated by prosecutor Theresa Anne Ferryman, defense attorney David R. Kritzman and Judge Hillary B. Strackbein.

Wearing a business suit, Bromley stood before the judge and quietly answered a series of questions to ensure he understood the plea agreement before surrendering himself to judicial marshals.

He chose not to address the court.

He was transported to prison by staff from the Department of Correction.

Bromley will be on probation for two years following his release and will not be allowed to re-apply for his position during that time.

He had worked for the Department of Correction since 1999.

He was placed on administrative leave last fall when a female inmate disclosed they had a sexual relationship, then discharged from the department after he was arrested in February 2015.

According to court documents, Bromley brought the woman snacks and small gifts, took photographs of her with his cellphone and had sex with her in the basement and laundry room of her housing unit.

The inmate, who has since been released from prison, was being held in the Davis building at York, where female prisoners take part in an intensive drug rehabilitation program.

Ferryman said the plea agreement was a compromise that reflects the fact that there were "credibility issues" with the victim right at the outset of the case.

Had Bromley gone to trial, the defense was expected to focus on the woman's criminal history.

The woman chose not to speak at Tuesday's proceeding, but Ferryman said there is a civil case pending against Bromley.

Judge Strackbein issued a standing criminal protective order that permanently prohibits Bromley from having contact with the woman.

Kritzman said Bromley has been "nothing but a gentleman" while his case was pending.

"This agreement is imperfect, but it allows my client to move on with his life," Kritzman said.  

The cases of the other two correction officers, Matt Gillette and Kareem Dawson, are pending in the same court.

The two men have been making regular appearances while their attorneys attempt to work out the case with Ferryman and the judge.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN