Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A former employee of the federal prison in Rochester has been indicted by a Federal Grand Jury.

A news release issued Friday afternoon by the US Attorney's Office for Minnesota says the indictment involves criminal charges associated with an alleged romantic relationship between the former nurse and an incarcerated inmate at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester. According to court documents, 37-year-old Jessica Lynn Larson is also accused of falsely claiming the inmate of sexual assault and threatening to hurt her children if she refused his sexual advances or reported his assault.

Prosecutors Allege That She Accused the Inmate of Sexual Assault After She Was Confronted About the Relationship

The news release alleges that, over the course of the illegal and abusive sexual relationship, Larson exchanged sexually explicit letters with the inmate. Prosecutors say, after other nursing staff reported Larson's inappropriate relationship, letters from Larson were discovered during a search of the inmates cell. Court documents say Bureau of Prisons officials also found letters from the inmate inside Larson's backpack.

Kim David/TSM

The indictment also alleges that Larson drove more than 600 miles from her home in Iowa to Cincinnati Ohio to mail a love letter to the inmate, who had been transferred to another federal prison. The charges state that incident occurred two months after she had been placed on administrative leave.

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Larson is scheduled to make her first court appearance in federal court next month.

These Common Household Items Are Now Banned In Minnesota

A hot topic lately is PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as "forever chemicals" because they are difficult for humans to detoxify and have half-lives measured in years. These chemicals accumulate in the body over time and can cause significant health issues even at low exposure levels

PFAS are commonly found in the environment and the human body and have been linked to a range of health concerns including increased cholesterol levels, potential disruption of hormone systems, reduced immune function, increased risk of certain cancers, developmental issues in children, and reproductive problems, particularly in pregnant women.

On January 1, 2024, Minnesota prohibited PFAS in firefighting foam and food packaging. The state is taking an even more aggressive stance against the chemicals in 2025.

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the first prohibitions of products containing intentionally added PFAS under Amara's Law (Minn. Stat. § 116.943) are now in effect in Minnesota, meaning you can no longer legally purchase these items.

If you're wondering if you already have products with intentionally added PFAS, you can take the following steps to be sure:

Check the label - Look for products that are labeled as PFAS-free.
Check for keywords - Look for words like "waterproof," "stain-repellent," or "dirt-repellant" on the tag.
Check for ingredients - Avoid products that contain ingredients with "perfluoro" or "fluoro" in their name.
Use a third-party verification service - Some organizations offer third-party verification of products that claim to be made without PFAS.

As of January 1, 2025, you can no longer purchase products with intentionally added PFAS in Minnesota. These products fall under the 11 categories below.

Gallery Credit: David Drew