A former high ranking prison guard at Georgia’s Emanuel Women’s Facility in Swainsboro has been accused of sexual assault on female prisoners. Edgar Daniel Johnson, 48, has been accused of groping and fondling inmates as well as forcing inmates to have sex.
At least a dozen women were interviewed and they described Johnson’s predatory behavior in detail. According to one 25-year-old inmate, Johnson claimed he was a pastor and would frequently quote Bible verses. In addition she described how Johnson would order her to clean his office frequently, even having her awakened by other guards to perform these duties. These encounters would result with Johnson making sexual comments and fondling her as well as threats. According to the inmate, when she was going to be transferred to a facility near Atlanta, which would allow her to be closer to her family, Johnson threatened her. The inmate stated that Johnson stated he would stop her transfer if she did not submit to him and she subsequently had sex with him multiple times in order to secure her transfer.
“Mr. Johnson vehemently denies the allegations, and we look forward to having the opportunity to confront these charges in court,” stated Johnson’s attorney, Kendall Gross.
A spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Corrections, Lisa Rodriguez-Presley, stated that the warden of the prison immediately started an investigation when she became aware of the sexual abuse and that “We take very seriously allegations of this nature, which cause unjust risk and harm to the individuals we supervise as well as the safe operation of our facilities”.
Johnson was fired in April and arrested in May and is currently free on bond.
