Mothers say daughters aren’t safe after being sexually assaulted by jailers

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — Two mothers who say their daughters were sexually assaulted by two former jailers say their daughters still are not safe.

The Paulding County Sheriff fired Ladarius Jones and Lucas Mays after they were accused of sexually assaulting three inmates at the Paulding County jail last month.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Jones and Mays have been charged with sexual assault and violating their oath of office.

Channel 2′s Chris Jose talked to two mothers who said their daughters were the victims.

TRENDING STORIES:

• New photos of missing Georgia teacher released from night of her disappearance
• Teen almost doesn’t graduate until teacher gives him his shoes
• Woman charged with murder after shooting woman visiting Atlanta, police say

Channel 2 Action News is not identifying the mothers or their daughters, but both mothers are devastated by what happened.

One mother said it is her fault her daughter was in jail in the first place. All three victims were in jail due to minor drug charges and probation violations.

“I put my daughter there,” one victim’s mother said. “I’m the one who called to get my daughter help. I always told her I’d rather see you in jail where I know you’re safe then to put you in the morgue.”

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

One mother said that despite the fact that the jailers were fired, she’s still worried about her daughter’s safety at the jail. She’s concerned about retaliation.

“She was violated there,” she said. “She’s not safe there.”

The sheriff’s office has called in the GBI to investigate. Sgt. Ashley Henson said agents looked through surveillance video and continue to work with deputies to make sure the jail is safe.

“We will come through and make sure every stone had been turned and make sure there are no other victims out there, and make sure no other employees are involved in this at all,” Henson said.

Henson said the situation is frustrating because it violates inmates’ trust in jailers.

“They tarnished our badge,” Henson said. “They made it to where inmates and the public potentially might not trust us.”

Jose talked to attorney Sarah Flack, who is representing two of the victims. She’s working to get them out of jail so they can seek treatment.

“Right now, they’re in the jail. They can’t heal from this,” Flack said. “They’re faced with the same people or same group of people who attacked them.”

Flack said there are a lot of unanswered questions, like who was monitoring the inmates and how the assaults were even allowed to happen in the first place.

Both mothers are upset they sent there children somewhere they thought they would be safe.

“I sent her somewhere she got hurt,” one mother said. “Where she should’ve never been hurt.”

The mothers said they spoke out because they don’t want this happening to any of the other inmates.

“They raped them. They violated them,” one mother said. “That’s just not acceptable.”

The sheriff’s office said policies and procedures inside the jail are under review.

“There will be more stringent standards on males going into those female pods,” Henson said.

Jonesboro woman in danger after being kidnapped by her boyfriend, police say

©2021 Cox Media Group