William “Jeff” Gillespie, warden of the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail, was charged Friday with unauthorized use of computers for allegedly showing a female jail employee adult pornography on his office computer Jan. 24.

There is no doubt that the images shown on the computer were pornographic, said Athens County Prosecutor C. David Warren.

“It’s not a question of (a) swimsuit (edition) or Hustler (magazine),” he said. “It’s definitely pornography.”

Nelsonville police are investigating the contents of the computer’s hard drive and memory, said Chief David Redecker of the Nelsonville Police Department.

Gillespie could receive a maximum one-year prison sentence if convicted of the fifth-degree felony charge. He would be eligible for a diversion program because he has no prior convictions and the charge is a low-degree felony, Warren said.

The warden has been on paid administrative leave for an undisclosed reason since the SEORJ’s Board of Commissioners met for its monthly meeting Jan. 31. The president of the commission, county Auditor Jill Thompson, said no decisions will be made about Gillespie’s status until the 12 members meet Wednesday.

Calls to Gillespie’s home were not immediately returned.