A Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice probation officer was fired after he allegedly provided contraband to an inmate at the DeKalb County jail, officials confirmed Monday.
Leonard Addison, 32, was taken into custody at the DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center on Wednesday and faces felony charges of violation of oath of office, crossing a state/county guard line, possession of prohibited item and conspiracy to commit a crime, according to the DeKalb sheriff’s office.
He served as a juvenile probation and parole specialist, and was fired just hours after his arrest, DJJ officials confirmed.
“DJJ has zero tolerance for the allegations levied against Mr. Addison,” Commissioner Shawanda Reynolds Cobb wrote in a statement. “The department will continue to hold all employees accountable for actions that violate internal policies, oath of office, or the law.”
Addison is accused of entering the jail Feb. 9 under the “pretense of visiting” a probationer and inmate, the sheriff’s office said. But while there, deputies said he allegedly passed the contraband to the inmate. The undisclosed items were discovered during “a routine frisk search” after the visit, the sheriff’s office added.
Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office
Credit: DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office
According to Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council records, Addison had been a probation officer with DJJ Probation since March 2017. He served as a juvenile correction officer within the agency’s transportation sector from January to March 2017.
Addison was released from the county jail Saturday after posting bond, according to online records.
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