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Dismissed jailer may face charges of sexual misconduct
By Rose Hooper
A meeting was scheduled Wednesday, May 5, to determine whether a dismissed jailer will face criminal charges for alleged sexual misconduct.
Jackson County jailer Jeff Burnette was dismissed March 26 following allegations that he exposed himself to female prisoners and made lewd remarks.
According to Jane Charlotte Jones, who was an inmate in the jail March 22, Burnette exposed himself to her.
"I was in lockdown when he opened the food tray entrance," said Jones, who then had a full view of the detention area.
"He was standing over by the computer where the guard was and when the guard went out to smoke a cigarette, he opened up his pants, pulled out his private parts and started playing with himself," she said.
"While he was doing this, he talked to me," she said, indicating Burnette knew he had a minute and a half before the closed circuit camera focused back on him.
Jones said all she could think about was "this really is not happening."
Later, when another female prisoner was brought in, Jones said Burnette exposed himself again. The other prisoner, who also witnessed the act, reported it the next morning, Jones said.
"We did have allegations made," said Sheriff Jimmy Ashe, who conducted an internal affairs investigation. Jones' testimony was included in that investigation.
Ashe, who confirmed the dismissal, was scheduled to meet with the district attorney Wednesday morning concerning possible criminal charges. The outcome of that meeting was not available at Herald press time.
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