Bryson Wallace Starks
A former jailer for the Murray County Sheriff’s Office was sentenced on Wednesday to serve five years in prison followed by 10 years on probation for the crimes of sexual contact with an inmate and violation of oath of office.
Bryson Wallace Starks, 26, of 265 Defoor Road, Resaca, pled guilty before Superior Court judge Scott Minter on Aug.
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While Assistant District Attorney Ben Kenemer agreed to dismiss two related charges, there was no negotiated plea agreement as to the sentence length. Judge Minter heard from both sides before announcing the sentence. Starks was represented by Dalton attorney Bart Barnwell.
The investigation began last year when the Murray County Sheriff’s Office learned of possible inappropriate conduct by their employee and requested that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation assist. Special Agent Adam Jones of the GBI was assigned the case. Agent Jones interviewed Starks who confessed to the inappropriate sexual relationship with one inmate. Correspondence between the victim and Starks also confirmed the existence of the relationship. Agent Jones also interviewed other inmates who were aware of the circumstances concerning the inappropriate relationship between Starks and his victim.
Starks faced a potential sentence of 25 years in prison on the sexual assault count and up to five years in prison on the violation of oath of office charge. Judge Minter’s sentence included sex offender conditions and Starks will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from confinement.