The DeKalb County justice system is prosecuting cases of alleged criminal activities within the walls of its jail. In statements released by the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office, former Deputy Joann Marks faces multiple charges, including Sexual Contact by an Employee or Agent in the First Degree, alongside charges stemming from providing contraband to an inmate. Meanwhile, former inmate Tobias Woods has been indicted on serious charges related to the death of a fellow inmate from a drug overdose.
An investigation revealed that Marks had supplied a cell phone and cigarettes to an inmate, a discovery made after jail employees found these items during a cell search. According to the district attorney's office, this led to Marks's admission of not only providing the contraband but also engaging in sexual relations with the inmate in question. After these confessions, Marks turned herself in and was processed by the DeKalb County Jail, pending her arraignment scheduled for December 23.
Separate from Marks's case, Tobias Woods faces charges including Felony Murder and Distribution of Controlled Substances. The charge of murder followed the death of Christon Collins, who died after suffering a fentanyl overdose while in custody. Surveillance footage from the DeKalb County Jail documented alarming behavior from Collins on March 13, leading to the eventual discovery by jail staff that he was in dire need of medical attention.
The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office conducted an autopsy on Collins, confirming the overdose, and through further investigation, determined that Woods sold the drug to Collins. Crucially, witnesses claim Woods tried to hide Collins's condition to avoid detection of his involvement. Having been taken into custody the day following his indictment, Woods will soon be arraigned, with the specifics of his court date to be determined.
In an assertive statement, District Attorney Sherry Boston stressed the ongoing nature of the investigation and the importance of bringing justice to all, regardless of their status as inmates: "Our investigation into the death of Christon Collins and how those deadly drugs got into the jail is still open and active," said Boston. "Crimes that happen inside the jail will not be ignored just because the people impacted are behind bars," as noted by the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.
