A former detention officer at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Lafayette to one count of sexual abuse of a ward or individual in federal custody.David Courvelle, 56, entered a plea deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert Summerhays.Courvelle was a contract detention officer at the facility in Evangeline Parish managed by the GEO Group between Jan. 1 and July 30, according to court records. Around Jan. 1, Courvelle allegedly began a personal and romantic “relationship" with a Nicaraguan ward at the detention center, Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Johnson said in court. Johnson said the contact “was not forced.”Between May and July 30, the document states, Courvelle had sexual contact multiple times with the detainee. He purchased gifts and food for the detainee, and gave her photographs of her daughter.Courvelle allegedly arranged for other detainees to serve as lookouts while he and the detainee with the initials C.H. met in a janitorial closet, Johnson said in court. On July 16, Johnston said, staff at the detention center saw Courvelle and C.H. exiting the janitorial closet. Courvelle was transferred to another detention block and resigned after learning there were recordings of calls between him and C.H.In a September interview with ICE representatives, Johnson said, Courvelle denied the activity, but about 30 minutes later admitted he had a “relationship” with C.H. Courvelle is set to appear April 10 before Summerhays for sentencing.He was released Monday on a $10,000 unsecured appearance bond. Summerhays said Courvelle could face up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, supervised release of up to three years and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.A civil rights complaint was filed in September with the Department of Homeland Security alleging former assistant warden Manuel Reyes, prison officers and ICE employees at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile subjected a woman and three transgender people to abuse from 2023 to 2025. The facility is operated by GEO Group Inc. and houses females and detainees of various gender identities.Contact Claire Taylor at ctaylor@theadvocate.com.