Two licensed nursing assistants are accused of having sexual relations with patients from an Iowa psychiatric facility.

An investigation began when the Prairie View Management Facility in Fayette reported two patients had absconded Feb. 21.

Four days later, deputies with the Fayette Sheriff’s Office learned the missing patients were seen with two nursing assistants from the facility, the Des Moines Register reported.

Authorities soon determined Megan Penney, 26, of Clermont and Paige Johanningmeier, 23, of Elgin, “had developed a relationship with the two patients and once they had left the facility it became sexual,” the sheriff’s office said.

The patients were at Prairie View under court order due to mental illness, the Register reported.

Penney and Johnningmeier were arrested Tuesday on a felony sex exploitation charge related to their position as counselors.

Each woman posted $2,000 bond and were released on the day they were booked.

Deputies took one of the patients back to Prairie View; they took the other to a hospital.

A woman who answered the phone at Prairie View told Fox News Friday that staff cooperated with investigators. She said the facility had no further comment and she declined to identify herself.