Yazoo County guards accused of sexual contact with female inmates

The Yazoo County Regional Correctional Facility has placed three guards on administrative leave following accusations of sexual contact with female inmates.

Terry Gann, an investigator with the Yazoo County Sheriff’s Department, told WLBT that the accusations center on two incidents that occurred on Dec. 19 and Dec. 20.

On Dec. 19, a guard is accused of having sexual contact with two women. On Dec. 20, two guards are accused of having sexual contact with a woman from the Dec. 19 incident and one other.

One of the women said a guard put his fingers “inside her private area,” according to Yazoo County Sheriff Jacob Sheriff.

One of the guards has confessed to his involvement.

Under Mississippi law, it is a felony for any guard or other prison employee to have sexual contact with an inmate, even if the act is consensual. If convicted, the guards face up to five years behind bars and may be fined up to $5,000.