MEMPHIS, Tenn. — On Tuesday, Shelby County corrections deputy Akira Jones was arrested and charged with having sexual contact with a prisoner. Now the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) said she has been fired.
Jones is out of jail on $5,000 bond.
The SCSO confirmed on Jan. 2 that a correction deputy was on leave and under investigation for “alleged misconduct involving an inmate.” They did not go into detail on what that misconduct entailed.
The SCSO later confirmed that they had received a complaint that a corrections deputy was allegedly having sex with an inmate at the main jail at 201 Poplar. They launched a criminal investigation and identified the corrections deputy as Akira Jones, who was immediately placed on administrative leave, according to the SCSO.
The Sheriff's Office said they contacted the District Attorney's Office, and investigators worked to bring the case before a grand jury for indictment.
On Tuesday, Feb. 6, Jones was arrested and charged with sexual contact with prisoners, according to the Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office said she was fired on Thursday, Feb. 8.
"The SCSO will not tolerate the misconduct of any employee and will continue to hold our employees accountable to the highest ethical standards to ensure our public's trust," the Shelby County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.