He's accused of committing sex acts with inmates while on duty. Now, a Sebastian County Detention Center deputy has found himself in a jail cell.
Investigators say they moved quickly to look into these shocking claims. In fact, they made an arrest within 12 hours. Deputy Leon Wood was arrested and behind bars at the jail before being released yesterday on a $30,000 bond Monday.
"We will prosecute our own if necessary."
The Sebastian County Sheriff's Department made it perfectly clear tuesday that they will not tolerate criminal acts among their ranks. 64-year-old Leon Wood has only been a deputy for about a year. But Wood found himself under arrest following his overnight shift Monday.
"He's facing two counts of sexual assault in the 3rd degree which carries between 3 and 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections on each count," Chief Deputy Prosecutor Joey Self told 5NEWS.
Investigators said Wood admitted to the acts in an interview.
"The deputy had made contact with the victims throughout the night and had committed the offense throughout the night," Captain Bill Hollenbeck said. "Once the shift had chang occurred, the inmates or victims actually contacted the next shift."
The women were treated at the hospital before being taken back to the jail. Hollenbeck says surveillance video of the area corroborates the women's stories. However, it does not show directly inside the cell.
Now that the criminal investigation has been turned over to prosecutors, an internal one will get underway to see if anyone else violated protocol. Wood should not have had contact with the female inmates.
Meanwhile, Chief Deputy Joey Self praised the sheriff's department for their quick action. The department's spokesman said they are extremely embarrassed by this.
"We have excellent employees that work at the detention center day in and day out," Captain Hollenbeck said. "Unfortunately it takes one person like this to tarnish the badge." This is the fourth incident involving a Sebastian County jailer in recent months. Two were arrested for dwi, one was fired for violating protocol, and now this. When asked about recent events, Sheriff Frank Atkinson simply responded: "They screwed up." He says they adequately screen applicants and the department is being transparent.
Investigators say they moved quickly to look into these shocking claims. In fact, they made an arrest within 12 hours. Deputy Leon Wood was arrested and behind bars at the jail before being released yesterday on a $30,000 bond Monday.
"We will prosecute our own if necessary."
The Sebastian County Sheriff's Department made it perfectly clear tuesday that they will not tolerate criminal acts among their ranks. 64-year-old Leon Wood has only been a deputy for about a year. But Wood found himself under arrest following his overnight shift Monday.
"He's facing two counts of sexual assault in the 3rd degree which carries between 3 and 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections on each count," Chief Deputy Prosecutor Joey Self told 5NEWS.
Investigators said Wood admitted to the acts in an interview.
"The deputy had made contact with the victims throughout the night and had committed the offense throughout the night," Captain Bill Hollenbeck said. "Once the shift had chang occurred, the inmates or victims actually contacted the next shift."
The women were treated at the hospital before being taken back to the jail. Hollenbeck says surveillance video of the area corroborates the women's stories. However, it does not show directly inside the cell.
Now that the criminal investigation has been turned over to prosecutors, an internal one will get underway to see if anyone else violated protocol. Wood should not have had contact with the female inmates.
Meanwhile, Chief Deputy Joey Self praised the sheriff's department for their quick action. The department's spokesman said they are extremely embarrassed by this.
"We have excellent employees that work at the detention center day in and day out," Captain Hollenbeck said. "Unfortunately it takes one person like this to tarnish the badge." This is the fourth incident involving a Sebastian County jailer in recent months. Two were arrested for dwi, one was fired for violating protocol, and now this. When asked about recent events, Sheriff Frank Atkinson simply responded: "They screwed up." He says they adequately screen applicants and the department is being transparent.
