From WRIL -
UPDATE: Former Bell County Deputy Jailer 34-year-old Joshua A Berry had his day in court on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. His initial charge of rape-3rd degree in regard to engaging in sexual intercourse with an inmate while employed at the jail was amended.
Berry was facing several years in jail, but the felony rape charge was amended down to sexual misconduct, a misdemeanor. He was sentenced to a year of unsupervised probation and he is required to stay out of the state of Kentucky for two years.
The Mountain Press reported in November of 2022 that Berry was being held at the Sevier County Jail after he allegedly broke into his ex-wife’s home and threatened her and another man with a gun.
"Thirty-four-year-old Joshua Berry is facing a charge of aggravated burglary and two counts of aggravated assault for the incident, which happened over the weekend. His bond has been set at $100,000."
We have been informed that Berry was given three years of probation for those charges earlier this year, as those charges were also amended to misdemeanor domestic violence.
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Original coverage:
A former Bell County Detention Center Deputy Jailer is in custody after being charged with a sexual offense allegedly occurring in the facility.
After a lengthy investigation, Kentucky State Police Detective Aaron Fredrick has charged 34-year-old Joshua Berry of Sevier, Tennessee with Rape - 3rd degree. The criminal complaint warrant states that while Berry was an employee of the jail, he engaged in sexual intercourse with a female inmate. The act is alleged to have occurred on August 29, 2016 in the elevator of the jail.
Det. Frederick also states in the complaint that DNA evidence sent to the Central Forensic Lab in Frankfort confirmed that the crime did occur.
Joshua Berry was transferred to the Clay County Detention Center shortly after being booked into the Bell County Detention Center and is being held on a $50,000 cash bond.