BCSO: Corrections officer charged with misconduct

BAY MINETTE, Ala. (WALA) - A corrections officer for the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office was arrested for alleged sexual misconduct with an inmate.　

THE CHARGES

Racheen Cox is charged with felony custodial sexual misconduct and harassing communications, a misdemeanor.

Captain Steve Arthur with the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office said, "We initially received a complaint from an inmate who was incarcerated over the weekend, alleging some inappropriate contact between her and a corrections officer while she was being finger printed."

THE INVESTIGATION

Arthur said that led to an investigation, which involved looking up phone records and recorded conversations.

He said that resulted in Cox's arrest Wednesday, March 6.

Arthur didn't go into details about the misconduct, but he said, "I can say it was not a rape or anything that way. It was an abuse situation and not necessarily an assault."

HARASSING COMMUNICATIONS CHARGE

Sheriff’s officials said Cox was charged with harassing communications after an alleged incident that happened after the inmate was out of jail.

Arthur said, "After the inmate had made bond, Mr. Cox somehow obtained a cell phone number of the victim, more than likely through her booking paperwork, and started a communication via telephone, cell phones. Some of that conversation was recorded by the victim, which helped us with our investigation."

SUSPENDED WITHOUT PAY

Sheriff’s officials said Cox has been suspended from his job without pay pending the investigation and trial.

Arthur said, "The investigation is about over with, but there is some wrap up stuff we have to do. And then, also, he will be given an opportunity to go to trial to prove his innocence. And depending between now and that, he could be terminated. That will be up to Sheriff Mack."

REACTION FROM THE DEPARTMENT

As for reaction from the department to the arrest, Arthur said, "It is disappointing, and you would hope that someone being put in a position of public trust would be a little more trustworthy than this. But at this point, he's under arrest for it. It's alleged. He's not convicted; so at this point, it’s strictly an allegation. But, we felt like there was enough probable cause to affect an arrest and suspend him from duty."

Cox has been released after posting $10,500 bond.