Ex-DeKalb prison guard charged with sexually assaulting inmate

Sonny Means

Sonny Means

A now-former guard at Metro Transitional Center on the south side of Atlanta faces an indictment alleging he had inappropriate contact with an inmate.

Sonny Means, 45, is charged with sexual assault on a person in custody and violation of the oath of office, according to court records obtained Wednesday.

He was arrested and released on $20,000 bond Friday, jail records show.

The alleged crime is said in the indictment to have happened sometime between May 19 and June 1, 2013. the indictment alleges he had sexual contact with the female inmate and “sexually gratified himself” in her presence.

He resigned in late July 2013, the Georgia Department of Corrections said Wednesday.

Metro Transitional Center is located in DeKalb County on Constitution Boulevard. It houses female inmates who are near the end of their prison sentences.

Further information on the case wasn’t released. The indictment doesn’t indicate whether the contact was believed to be consensual. Georgia law doesn’t take into account whether sex acts between prison guards and inmates are consensual, because guards have inherent authority over prisoners.

The reason for the delay in the indictment wasn’t clear.

A message left for Means wasn’t immediately returned.

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