Published: 5/24/2022

MEDIA SOURCES REPORT THAT A MAURY COUNTY CORRECTIONS OFFICER HAS NOW BEEN CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTING AN INVESTIGATION AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY FALSIFIED OFFICIAL REPORT RECORDS. THE INVESTIGATION CONCERNED HIS REPORTED INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH AN INMATE. ALLEGATIONS WERE MADE THAT THE OFFICER, JAMES STEWART THOMAS, 31 OF COLUMBIA, HAD SEXUALLY ABUSED AN INMATE IN HIS CUSTODY. HE WAS ARRESTED LAST WEEK AND INDICTED BY FEDERAL GRAND JURY ON ONE COUNT OF FALSIFICATION OF RECORDS AFTER HE WROTE AN OFFICIAL REPORT IN WHICH HE ALLEGED THE INMATE HAD MADE ADVANCES TO HIM AND HE HAD REPORTED IT TO TWO OF HIS SUPERVISORS. THE REPORT ALSO FALSELY CLAIMED THAT THOSE TWO SUPERVISORS BOTH ADVISED HIM NOT TO WRITE A REPORT ABOUT THE ALLEGED SEXUAL ADVANCES BY THE INMATE, AND THE REPORT OMITTED THAT HE HAD A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INMATE AFTER THE INMATE’S RELEASE FROM THE JAIL. HE FACES UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON IF CONVICTED.