Jailer accused of sex with inmate

A Howard County jailer has been arrested for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a female inmate.

Charges are pending against Reginald Marks, 42, of Mineral Springs in the Sept. 8 incident at the Howard County Detention Facility in Nashville, Ark.

The 28-year-old victim was interviewed by deputies regarding the allegations. She said Marks came by the cell where the victim was housed in the jail, according to the arrest affidavit.

Marks was checking the jail cells and noticed the victim crying because she had not spoken with her mother in several days, the affidavit said.

Marks told the victim he will let her use a telephone after he finished the jail checks.

Marks then let the woman out of the jail cell and opened the door to the control room. He escorted the woman down some stairs and into a storage room, she said.

The jailer reportedly told the victim to take off her clothes and lie down on the floor.

The woman said Marks started having sexual intercourse with her. The victim said she was in the storage room for about 20 minutes.

Jail video recording footage on Sept. 8. confirms the time frame which corroborates the woman’s statement.

Video showed Marks opening doors and taking actions believed to be him attempting to clean the area where the incident allegedly occurred.

The video also shows Marks wearing the jail uniform issued and belonging to Howard County.

When the incident was reported by the inmate, the Howard County Sheriff’s Department began an investigation. A search warrant was issued by Ninth Circuit Court Judge Charles Yeargan. The sheriff and other personnel went to Marks’ residence where they confiscated evidence, including articles of clothing.

Marks was terminated from his jailer position and taken into custody, a news release said. He was held at the Pike County Jail in Murfreesboro until appearing in court Monday. Marks was released on a $7,500 bond.

Marks had another court appearance in the Nashville, Ark., Circuit Court on Wednesday.