Sheriff's Office Fires Deputy Charged with Sexually Assaulting Inmate

The second deputy accused of sexually assaulting a female inmate has been fired.

Sgt. Kristopher Travitz's 14-year-old career with the Cobb County Sheriff's Office came to an end on Saturday, the same day that authorities arrested him on charges of violation of public oath, aggravated sexual battery, sexual assault by a law enforcement officer and false statements, Col. Milton Beck said in a news release.

An internal investigation initiated after last month's arrest of Sgt. Alvin Blake Sutherland on similar charges led authorities to Travitz, who was brought in for questioning.

Initially, according to a criminal warrant, he allegedly told officials that the inmate never came to his Douglasville home. But a GPS tracker that the inmate was ordered to wear around her ankle revealed that she was at Travitz's home for 45 minutes.

According to the warrant, the sexual assault occurred between Oct. 21, 2010 and March 7, 2011.

Travitz, 37, is being held in the Bartow County Jail without bond.

Sutherland, the first deputy arrested on sexual assault charges, is still in the Douglas County Jail without bond on charges of aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, sexual assault by a member of law enforcement, and violation of oath of public office. 

Sutherland, 51, is no longer with the Cobb County Sheriff's Office. He was also terminated, agency spokeswoman Nancy Bodiford said.

Sheriff Neil Warren said all employees must undergo rigorous background checks, but "there are no guarantees that this type of behavior will not occur.

"I can assure you that every complaint we receive will be thoroughly investigated and that we will continue to clearly communicate the expectation that those empowered to enforce the law will be held to a higher standard of conduct. When violations occur, they will be addressed quickly and decisively."