Eric Mayo, a former Alexandria Sheriff’s deputy, will serve six years in the penitentiary for having sex with inmates under his supervision.
An Alexandria jury found Mayo guilty of two counts of carnal knowledge of an inmate earlier this year and recommended a sentence of six years. On Thursday, Alexandria Circuit Court Judge Donald Haddock agreed.
“We were very pleased because this was exactly what we asked for,” said Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Tim Callahan.
The defense argued that Mayo should be released and placed on probation. His wife and his pastor both testified to his good character and that they did not believe he would commit any further crimes.
Between April and September, 2002, Mayo had sex with two inmates who were under his supervision in a work release program at the Alexandria jail. The two female victims came forward only last year and despite lengthy criminal records, a jury believed their accounts of the events. Mayo used his position of authority to force the women to agree to sexual relations.
The defense asked that Mayo be allowed to serve his time in a local facility instead of the state penitentiary because of the danger to him as a former law enforcement officer. The judge denied this request.