Sergeant Alvin Blake Sutherland of the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office has been accused of sexually assaulting a female inmate at the Cobb County jail.
He has been charged with aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, sexual assault by a law enforcement officer, and violation of his oath of office.
According to Sheriff Neil Warren, the inmate filed a complaint earlier in the week claiming an employee of the sheriff’s office sexually assaulted her without her consent. Apparently, the alleged assault occurred a week prior to her complaint. Sutherland’s arrest warrant alleges that he engaged in oral sex, as well as other sexual acts, with the inmate against her will and while she was under his control and custody. Sheriff Warren explained that instances may arise where a deputy and an inmate might be alone together. Deputies often assist with moving the inmates around the facility, to other cellblocks, or to the infirmary.
Sutherland, a former Marine, has worked at the sheriff’s department for 10 years. As part of his duties, he was assigned to supervise the Cobb County jail, comprised of 20 to 30 deputies and about 250 inmates.
If convicted on the aggravated sodomy or aggravated sexual battery charge, Sutherland would be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison.
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