Megan Marie Penney [left], and Paige Lynn Johanningmeier [right], have been charged with sexual exploitation by a counselor, therapist or school employee

Two female nursing assistants in Fayette, Iowa are facing charges for allegedly having sex with patients mandated to be housed at a Residential Care Facility, by the court.
According to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Megan M. Penney, 26, of Clermont; and Paige L. Johanningmeier, 23, of Elgin, each face charges of sexual exploitation by a counselor, therapist or school employee.
Police in Fayette were first alerted when employees at Prairie View Residential Care Facility contacted them on Feb. 21 to report that two patients, who had been court ordered to be housed at the facility, had suddenly walked away, the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier reports.
Investigators discovered that two nursing assistants,  Megan Penney and Paige Johanningmeier had been seen with the missing people after they had left the facility.
Both women were employees of Prairie View, police say, and after an investigation the pair were arrested Tuesday.
Both nurses allegedly, developed a relationship with the two patients, according to criminal complaints. Authorities learned the two women “harbored” the missing patients and developed a sexual relationship with them.
The assisted living facility provides “supportive and skill building services to adults with functional limitations caused by chronic mental illness,” according to court documents.
The patients were entered into the state database as missing person and, on Feb. 25, authorities learned the patients had been seen with two staff members, Penney and Johanningmeier.
Authorities the patients in custody, one of the patients was taken to a hospital in Linn County and the other was returned to Prairie View.
The pair of nurses were arrested on March 6 and released from the Fayette County Jail that day after posting a $2,000 bail.
Penney and Johanningmeier both admitted to their guilt, they are now facing charges of sexual exploitation by a mental health worker. The crime which is a Class D felony, is punishable by up to five years in prison and 10 years on the sex offender registry.