BY MICHAEL H. O’DONNELL
modonnell@journalnet.com
POCATELLO — After serving as warden of the Women’s Correctional Center here since mid-January, Nancy Espeseth, 50, was removed from the post after a DUI arrest in Bingham County on Oct. 12.
Bingham County Sheriff Craig Rowland said the DUI arrest followed a routine traffic stop. Espeseth has pleaded not guilty and a pre-trial hearing on the misdemeanor charge has been set for Dec. 10.
Idaho Department of Corrections Prisons Chief Jeff Zmuda notified the state Prisons Division of Espeseth’s departure from the job in an Oct. 22 email.
“Circumstances have led us to the decision to have Nancy step out of the warden position at PWCC,” Zmuda wrote. “I appreciate the leadership and commitment Nancy brought to her role as warden at the facility. Nancy has been a dedicated employee for many years and though no longer a warden, she will remain with the organization in another capacity.”
Deputy warden at the Pocatello women’s prison, Lee Ann Hamilton, has been acting warden as the Department of Corrections begins the selection process for a new warden. According to a spokesperson for the department, advertising for the position has closed, and finalists are being selected.
Espeseth became warden 10 months ago after serving as the manager of the District 7 Probation and Parole district in Idaho Falls. She began her career with the Department of Corrections in July 1999 as a correctional officer at the Twin Falls Community Work Center.
Espeseth became a probation and parole officer in July 2000, a section supervisor in January 2008, manager of Pocatello District 6 in August 2010 and manager of District 7 in August 2011.
When she took over as warden at the Pocatello corrections center, Espeseth replaced Jim Woolf, who had accepted a job at the St. Anthony Work Camp in St. Anthony as the warden.
Espeseth, a native of Blackfoot, was a softball and basketball star at Idaho State University from 1980 to ’84 and served as team captain for both sports for three years. She still holds the record for career assists as a basketball point guard with 405.
Espeseth was inducted into the ISU Sports Hall of Fame along with four other former university athletes during a ceremony held Nov. 9 at the Stephens Performing Arts Center.