Oakland County deputy convicted of sex crimes in jail

Jurors this afternoon convicted a veteran Oakland County Sheriff's deputy of three counts of sex crimes after he engaged in sex with an inmate at the jail where he worked.

Deputy Garry Jackson, who has been on suspension since September, 2013, when the allegations surfaced, faces up to 15 years in prison. Jackson, 54, had been with the department for 16 years.

Investigators say the sexual encounters with the 24-year-old inmate in a custodial closet in the Oakland County jail in August 2013, were likely consensual but state law prohibits deputies and prison guards from having sexual conduct with those they supervise.

The inmate, serving time for shoplifting, died from unrelated causes before she could testify in the trial. Instead Oakland County prosecutors built their case around eye witnesses and Jackson's own statements to investigators.

This was Jackson's second time before a jury. He went on trial in September 2014, but jurors were unable to reach a verdict and a mistrial was declared. Jurors in the current case deliberated for about four hours today.

Jackson will be sentenced by Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Colleen O'Brien on Feb. 13. While he faces up to 15 years, sentencing guidelines call for 48 to 52 months.

Contact L.L. Brasier: 248-858-2262 or lbrasier@freepress.com