Jailer charged with sexual assault of inmate
A Howard County, Ark., jailer was arrested on a third-degree sexual assault charge for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a female inmate, according to records.
The charge of sexual assault was filed Monday against Reginald Marks, 42, of Mineral Springs in the Sept. 8 incident at the Howard County Detention Facility in Nashville, Ark.
The 28-year-old woman was interviewed by deputies regarding the allegations. The woman said Marks came by the cell where she was housed, according to the arrest affidavit.
Marks was checking the jail cells and allegedly noticed the woman crying because she had not spoken with her mother in several days, the affidavit states.
Marks allegedly told the woman he would let her use a telephone after he finished the jail checks.
Marks then allegedly let the woman out of the jail cell and opened the door to the control room. He escorted her down some stairs and into a storage room, according to records.
The jailer allegedly told her to take off her clothes and lie down on the floor.
The woman alleges Marks started having sexual intercourse with her. She said she was in the storage room for about 20 minutes.
Jail video recording footage on Sept. 8. confirms the time frame, which corroborates the woman’s statement, according to officials.
The video also allegedly shows Marks wearing the jail uniform issued and belonging to Howard County.
When the incident was reported by the inmate, the Howard County Sheriff ’s Department began an investigation. A search warrant was issued by 9th Circuit Court Judge Charles Yeargan. The sheriff and other personnel went to Marks’ residence, where they confiscated evidence, including articles of clothing.
Marks was terminated from his jailer position and taken into custody, according to a news release. Marks was released on a $7,500 bond.
The charge is a class C felony and carries a potential prison sentence of a minimum of three years and no more than 10 years and a $10,000 maximum fine or both a fine and sentence.
Marks had not entered a plea to the charge.