Correctional officer accused of sexually assaulting inmate

A Savannah correctional officer has been arrested after accusations that she sexually assaulted an inmate.

Mareka Austin, a Chatham County Sheriff's Office correctional officer, was arrested by the Internal Affairs and Criminal Investigation unit Tuesday morning and charged with sexual assault by persons with supervisory or disciplinary authority over an inmate, according to the Savannah ABC news station WJCL.

In a statement, CCSO said the investigation began about one week ago and that Austin admitted to having an unprofessional and personal relationship with an inmate. The correctional officer also admitted to placing money into the inmate’s phone account.

Austin joined the department Nov. 18, 2019.

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Stephanie Toone

Stephanie has been telling stories her whole life. Her interest in the written word started with short stories and journal entries about run-ins with classroom bullies as a child and matured to writing for her high school newspaper over the years. She has written and edited for The Tennessean, Augusta Chronicle and American City & County.

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