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Maury County Corrections Officer Convicted of Obstruction of Justice
A federal jury in Nashville, Tennessee, has convicted James Justice, 32, a corrections officer with the Maury County Sheriff’s Office, of obstruction of justice.
According to court testimony, Justice falsified records relating to nonconsensual sexual contact he had with a female inmate in his custody. The indictment, filed in May 2022, charged Justice with making false reports and omitting crucial information about his relationship with the inmate.
During the trial, evidence and testimony revealed that Justice wrote an official report falsely claiming he had reported an inmate’s alleged sexual advances to two Maury County Jail supervisors, and that those supervisors had advised him not to write a report about the incident. However, the report omitted Justice’s own admission of a nonconsensual sexual relationship with the inmate after her release.
Justice faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on September 18, 2023. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis praised the trial team and partners at the FBI for their work in investigating and presenting the case, calling it an “excellent job.” Leventis also emphasized the importance of holding Justice accountable for his actions.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Klopf and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton leading the prosecution. The verdict is a significant step towards ensuring that law enforcement officials are held to the highest standards of integrity and accountability.
As the investigation and trial have shown, the consequences of betrayal of public trust can be severe. Justice will no longer be entrusted to serve as a law enforcement officer, and he will face the maximum penalty allowed under the law.
Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Category: Public Corruption|Sex Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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