DeKalb County District Attorney
01/14/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/14/2026 14:01
FORMER DEKALB JAIL DEPUTY PLEADS GUILTY TO SEXUAL CONTACT WITH INMATE, VIOLATION OF OATH
January 14, 2026
State v. Joann Marks
Decatur, Ga.- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces the conviction by guilty plea of a former DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Deputy accused of an inappropriate relationship with an inmate.
On Monday, January 12, 2026, Defendant Joann Marks, 28, pleaded guilty to charges of Sexual Contact by Employee or Agent in the First Degree, Items Prohibited for Possession by Inmates and two counts of Violation of Oath by Public Officer.
DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Courtney L. Johnson, who presided over the hearing and accepted Defendant Marks's guilty plea, sentenced Defendant Marks to 12 years to serve 2 in confinement. Defendant Marks must turn herself into the DeKalb County Jail on January 19, 2026. Under her sentence Marks is also required to complete 500 hours of community service.
Marks requested and was granted treatment under the First Offender Act if she successfully completes the terms of her sentence.
According to the investigation, jail employees found a contraband cell phone and cigarettes during a search of an inmate's cell in April 2024. As part of their investigation into the contraband, they reviewed surveillance video from the medical unit holding cell, which showed Deputy Marks alone with the inmate on several occasions. Investigators interviewed Deputy Marks and she admitted to giving the cell phone to the inmate. She also admitted to having sexual intercourse with the inmate. The Sheriff's Office arrested and fired Deputy Marks the same day.
After completing their investigation, the Sheriff's Office of Professional Standards turned their file over to the District Attorney's Office for review.
The case, assigned to the Anti-Corruption Unit, was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Steve Ruth, with assistance from District Attorney Senior Investigator Steven DiMasi.
State v. Joann Marks
Decatur, Ga.- DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces the conviction by guilty plea of a former DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Deputy accused of an inappropriate relationship with an inmate.
On Monday, January 12, 2026, Defendant Joann Marks, 28, pleaded guilty to charges of Sexual Contact by Employee or Agent in the First Degree, Items Prohibited for Possession by Inmates and two counts of Violation of Oath by Public Officer.
DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Courtney L. Johnson, who presided over the hearing and accepted Defendant Marks's guilty plea, sentenced Defendant Marks to 12 years to serve 2 in confinement. Defendant Marks must turn herself into the DeKalb County Jail on January 19, 2026. Under her sentence Marks is also required to complete 500 hours of community service.
Marks requested and was granted treatment under the First Offender Act if she successfully completes the terms of her sentence.
According to the investigation, jail employees found a contraband cell phone and cigarettes during a search of an inmate's cell in April 2024. As part of their investigation into the contraband, they reviewed surveillance video from the medical unit holding cell, which showed Deputy Marks alone with the inmate on several occasions. Investigators interviewed Deputy Marks and she admitted to giving the cell phone to the inmate. She also admitted to having sexual intercourse with the inmate. The Sheriff's Office arrested and fired Deputy Marks the same day.
After completing their investigation, the Sheriff's Office of Professional Standards turned their file over to the District Attorney's Office for review.
The case, assigned to the Anti-Corruption Unit, was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Steve Ruth, with assistance from District Attorney Senior Investigator Steven DiMasi.
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