CLEVELAND -- A former Georgia Department of Corrections officer was indicted this week for having sexual contact with an inmate in White County.
Grady Harold Speers, 37, of Hartwell was indicted on one count of sexual assault of an inmate in a correctional facility, and one count of violation of oath of public officer.
According to District Attorney Jeff Langley, the victim was an inmate from Lee Arrendale State Prison in Alto, who was on a work release program and working in Helen.
"There was allegedly sexual activity between the defendant and inmate," Langley said.
State law strictly prohibits that type of conduct.
"Such contact really degrades the structure of the jail or the correctional system -- creates disorder," Langley said. "And of course it's a danger to the inmates, it's a danger to the correctional officers who become involved in such and corrupts our system if it's allowed to go on."
Langley said Speers no longer works for the Georgia Department of Corrections.
