Jail deputies accused of using Facebook to contact inmate - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

Two Oconee County jail deputies are out of a job after being accused of having sexual talks with an inmate.

The sheriff says Dewayne Powers was fired and Andre Rogers resigned following an internal investigation that revealed the men contacted the woman inmate through Facebook and text messages.

Oconee County Sheriff Scott Berry said that Powers was fired on August 2 for violating numerous policies. Berry said that Powers sent a message to the inmate's cell phone, which was in the property of the jail, and also sent the woman a Facebook friend request.

Berry said that Rogers sent Facebook friend requests to that same inmate and another inmate. Rogers resigned on August 2.

The sheriff said the two deputies were also having inappropriate discussions with the inmate at the jail.

"They were on duty, on the job and they were having them over the intercom inside the cell," said Berry.

The inmate's cellmate's boyfriend tipped authorities off to the alleged conversations, Berry said.

The interactions took place at night when the deputies were on duty alone. Berry said there is no evidence of a crime or physical contact. He said the inmate did not object to the sexual nature of the conversations. Still, Berry described the inmate as a "victim" and the former deputies' actions a poor lapse of judgment.

"Our job is to protect the inmate from that, not to encourage it or participate in it. And if that's what you're going to do, you cannot work here," said Berry.

FOX 5 was unable to locate Rogers for comment. Powers said that he had no comment.