Guard accused of sexually assaulting Kentucky inmate during trip to jail, police say

A correctional officer is accused of sexually assaulting a Kentucky inmate while he was taking her to another jail, Indiana police say.

Malyk Jawaun Johnson, 23, picked up the female inmate from Henderson County jail in Kentucky in February, according to a news release. He was assigned to take the 37-year-old woman to Indiana on charges in Knox County, police said.

The trip is about 60 miles.

Johnson stopped at a gas station and bought a tobacco product for the woman. When they crossed into Knox County, Johnson stopped the vehicle on a road just off the highway, police said.

That’s when he’s accused of sexually assaulting the woman, police said.

The woman’s attorney told prosecutors, who told the Knox County Sheriff’s Office of the accusation, police said.

Johnson is charged with sexual battery, official misconduct, and trafficking with an inmate, the news release said.

Johnson is no longer employed by the Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Doug Vantlin said in a news release.