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Ex-Court Supervisor Accused Of Sleeping With Inmates

He was supposed to supervise convicted felons, but a drug court supervisor was fired for allegedly having sex with inmates.

Court documents detail the allegations about a former employee and convicted felon. He was given a second chance, but different women said he took them to his house for sex.

A Davidson County drug treatment facility is an alternative to prison where convicted felons get help. County officials often tout its success.

"That's something I cannot comment on right now," said Janet Hobson, program director for Davidson County Community Corrections and Davidson County Drug Court Program.

Drug court administrators are not saying much about 34-year-old Shannon Turner. The six-year employee was fired this month over allegations he had sex with at least three female inmates. 

Court documents showed that he acknowledged some of the sexual encounters took place at the DC4 treatment facility and some occurred at his home.

"At this moment we have allegations from at least three women," said Don Aaron, Metro police spokesman.

Police are now conducting a criminal investigation. It is illegal to have sex with inmates.  Court documents claim Turner began having sex with the women two years ago.

"He was an employee at the drug court and thus, he had a responsibility to act in the best interest of the government," Aaron said.

Turner is a convicted felon who was given a second chance at the drug court. His job was to take inmates to community work projects.

"There should be no reason for a resident or offender in this program to actually be at an employee's residence," Hobson said.

Police served a search warrant on Turner's home and removed computers, DVD and other materials.

Drug court officials said they received the first complaint earlier this month.  Their investigation contributed to Turner's dismissal.

"Any violation or infraction of program policy we take serious and we act upon it," Hobson said.

The court documents indicate there are romantic letters between at least one of the women and Turner. He has a prior conviction for cocaine-related charges. 

Police said their investigation is not over. The Davidson County Drug Court Residential Program houses about 80 convicted felons. Many spend about 18 months in the facility getting treatment. It was established in 1997 by Criminal Court Judge Seth Norman.

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