BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON - A former Butler County Jail corrections officer is accused of having sexual relations with a 22-year-old female inmate.
Steven Cox, who joined the sheriff's department July 20 and resigned Oct. 14 after the allegations surfaced, has been indicted on four felony counts of sexual battery. Each carries a possible sentence of one to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
After the indictment, Mr. Cox, 50, of Hamilton, was arrested Wednesdayevening at the sheriff's administration building. He was booked at the Butler County Jail and immediately transferred to the Middletown Municipal Jail so he would not be held in the jail where he had worked, Chief Deputy Rick Jones said Thursday.
Mr. Cox was released later that night on $10,000 bond.
Authorities became aware of the allegations Oct. 13, said Capt. Charles Profitt, jail warden. After an investigation the next morning, Mr. Cox resigned.
The allegations were sent to the prosecutor's office and then were presented to the grand jury.
"In this type of work, like any line of work, some people think they can get by with things," Chief Deputy Jones said. "They don't seem to have good sense or control of themselves and don't worry about the consequences of their actions."
The four alleged sexual incidents occurred between Aug. 13 and Oct. 13, according to the indictment.
Sheriff Harold Don Gabbard "wants to make a strong statement that this will not be tolerated," said Chief Deputy Jones. "It's being taken very seriously."
The female inmate was jailed after being convicted of writing bad checks. The Cincinnati Enquirer -->does not name the alleged victims in sex-related cases.
From 1967 to May of this year, Mr. Cox worked for Beckett Paper Co., according to his personnel records. His last job there was fork lift operator. He also worked as a part-time Butler County deputy from 1983 to 1990 and as a part-time Fairfield police officer from 1991 to earlier this year.
