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Written by: E. George
Published July 4, 2024 @ 5:30 PM ET
NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. – Authorities arrested a Newton County detention officer on June 21, 2024, after an investigation into accusations of an inappropriate relationship between her and an inmate. The sheriff’s office received a report about the allegations against Akina Keturah Martin on April 26, 2024, and police detained her two months later.
The Peace Officer Standards and Training Council’s records revealed that Martin submitted her resignation on April 11, 2024. She began her employment at the sheriff’s office in September 2023, and had no history of other disciplinary actions.
Martin faces charges of improper sexual contact by an employee, providing tobacco to an inmate without authorization, violating the oath of a public officer, two counts of aggravated sodomy, and two counts of sexual battery. Following standard protocol, she was booked into the Rockdale County Detention Center.
Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown shared in an online statement, “First and foremost, the actions of the detention officer were a personal choice, not a reflection of our leadership or the values we uphold at the Office of the Sheriff. Secondly, I want to make it clear that actions of this nature will not be, and have never been, tolerated within our office.
We hold ourselves to the highest of standards of integrity and professionalism, and any deviation from these standards is dealt with swiftly and decisively.”
Brown said, “Like any other agency or organization, there will be occurrences beyond our control. However, we remain committed to transparency, accountability, and the continuous improvement of our practices to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals under our care.”
This case is pending.