Hays State jailer arrested, charged with sexually assaulting convicted murderer

Jessica Nabors
Jessica Nabors
photo Jessica Nabors
photo Jermontae Moss

SUMMERVILLE, Ga. -- A Hays State Prison correctional officer was arrested this week for allegedly pursuing forbidden love with a convicted murderer.

The Chattooga County Sheriff's Office arrested 19-year-old Jessica Taylor Nabors on Tuesday on charges of violating the oath of a peace officer and sexually assaulting a person in custody.

At some point between 1 and 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest warrant affidavit, Nabors let inmate Jermontae Moss hug her, kiss her, rub her bottom and caress her breast. In Georgia, a corrections officer is guilty of sexual assault if he or she has relations with an inmate -- even if the inmate consents.

Moss is in prison because a Houston County, Ga., jury convicted him of murder in 2012 for killing a convenience store clerk during an attempted robbery.

Nabors left the Chattooga County Jail Wednesday on a bond of $7,500.

The arrest warrant affidavit says that Nabors admitted to letting Moss kiss her and grope her. But multiple corrections officers told the Times Free Press the hookup was more lewd and raised public safety concerns.

The officers said security camera footage captured Nabors performing oral sex on Moss. But what's worse, they said, the two were together in the "day room," a part of the prison with couches and TVs. Inmates use the day room sometimes, but not in the early hours after midnight, and especially not one-on-one with a female corrections officer.

"He wasn't even supposed to be in there," one officer said of Moss. "Everybody's supposed to be in their cells."

Hays State drew attention from Gov. Nathan Deal in 2013 because of safety concerns and violence. From December 2012 to February 2013, four inmates were killed. Audits showed officers were understaffed and underprotected.

Locks on some of the cell doors didn't even work, letting inmates roam free. Some of them smuggled cellphones into their cells and posted pictures of themselves wielding knives online.

Two members of the Georgia Department of Corrections' communications department did not respond to calls seeking comment late Friday afternoon.

When a reporter showed up at Nabors' listed address, nobody answered the door.

Contact staff writer Tyler Jett at 423-757-6476 or tjett@timesfreepress.com.

Upcoming Events