A former Gwinnett County Sheriff's deputy is in custody Monday following allegations he engaged in sexual activity with an inmate during a transport last month.
Terry Henderson, 40, turned himself in to the Butts County Sheriff's Office after an investigation revealed he reportedly engaged in illegal sexual activity in the county while transporting a female inmate to the Gwinnett County Jail, according to a press release from Sheriff's spokeswoman Shannon Volkadov.
An arrest warrant was issued for Henderson Monday for charges of violation of oath of office and sexual assault.
The inmate reported the incident on September 14, Volkadov said in the release, and an investigation began immediately. The alleged sexual activity happened in Butts County, and Volkadov said their investigators presented the case to the Butts County District Attorney's Office to proceed with criminal prosecution.
Henderson, a 12 year veteran of the Sheriff's Office, was terminated on September 26, according to the release. "His alleged behavior is inexcusable and offensive to the many men and women who proudly wear our badge and perform their duties each day with integrity," the release stated. "Our deputies receive exhaustive training on state and federal laws regarding supervision of persons in custody. They are well aware that an inmate in their custody cannot give consent for sexual activity of any nature and that the penalty for such behavior is termination and criminal prosecution."
“While I am extremely disappointed with the actions of Terry Henderson, I am mindful of the many deputies who serve our community each day with excellence," Sheriff Butch Conway said in the release.
Henderson is being held in the Butts County Jail.
