In Tennessee, "Where there's a will, there's a way!"

Deputies suspended in sex case

By KELLY B. SOUTH
kbsouth@jacksonsun.com
06/23 2005

Two Madison County sheriff's deputies have been suspended with pay after an alleged incident of inappropriate sexual contact between a male inmate and a female inmate occurred under the deputies' supervision.

Deputies Danny J. Wilson, 49, and Richard A. Baxter, 52, were routinely suspended, pending the completion of an internal investigation, Sheriff David Woolfork said Wednesday.

The incident reportedly occurred Friday, while the male and female inmates, both 34 years old, were being transported between Dyer County and Lake County. Woolfork said he received information regarding the incident on Monday.

A preliminary investigation found the inmates had consensual sexual contact, according to a press release from the Sheriff's Department. Both were wearing restraint devices that included waist chains and handcuffs, the release said.

The incident is being investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Madison County Sheriff's Department.

The male inmate was returning to the Madison County Jail on charges of burglary, theft of property and vandalism. The female inmate was returning to the jail on charges of violation of probation/theft of property.

It is not unusual for sheriff's deputies to transport male and female inmates at the same time, Woolfork said. He explained that while deputies are transporting inmates, the inmates are restrained and both officers should observe what is going on.

The vehicle they used to transport the inmates has a door that opens, a window deputies can see through and an intercom system deputies can use to hear the inmates, Woolfork said.

The investigation is expected to be complete no later than Friday.