A woman working at the Arapahoe County jail was arrested for allegedly possessing a folding knife while on duty in a maximum security section of the facility.

The woman was identified as Nicole Sue Beal, 23.

Sheriff Grayson Robinson said his office was investigating a possibly inappropriate relationship between Beal and a murder suspect who was previously housed at the facility.

He said the relationship between Beal and the inmate included the exchange of mail and phone calls and during the investigation, they found her carrying a folding tactical knife on duty.

She was taken into custody and charged with introducing contraband in the first-degree, a crime punishable by up to six years in the state penitentiary.

Beal has been an employee of the sheriff’s office since March 2005.