A former corrections officer at the Shelby County Detention Center pleaded guilty this week to sexually abusing a female inmate under his supervision, admitting he sodomized her twice in the same day. Ladonis Mayfield, 32, entered his plea in Shelby Circuit Court to two counts of third-degree sodomy and one count of first-degree official misconduct, according to prosecutors.
As reported by LEX 18 News, Mayfield worked as a corrections officer at the jail when the abuse occurred. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced that Mayfield pleaded guilty to felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from the sexual abuse of an inmate under his supervision, and following the plea, Coleman's office issued a statement commending state investigators and prosecutors for protecting the integrity of law enforcement and holding public officers accountable, according to the Kentucky Attorney General's Office.
The case traces back to April 2025, when the Kentucky State Police Post 12 launched an investigation on April 4 after receiving a facility complaint about incidents that occurred on April 1. That investigation led to Mayfield's arrest on April 7, 2025; he was from Taylorsville and was initially lodged at the Oldham County Jail, per the Kentucky State Police.
What the Guilty Plea Means Under Kentucky Law
Under the plea agreement, Mayfield will receive a three-year prison sentence and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26, per the outlet's report. He will also be subject to five years of post-incarceration supervision after his release and must complete a sex offender treatment program while incarcerated.
Third-degree sodomy is classified as a Class D felony in Kentucky, and under Kentucky Revised Statutes § 510.090, the law explicitly criminalizes any detention facility employee or jailer who subjects an incarcerated person under their supervision to deviate sexual intercourse, according to the Legislative Research Commission. The statute effectively eliminates consent as a defense for correctional personnel, reflecting the inherent power imbalance between jailers and the people in their custody.
The first-degree official misconduct count Mayfield pleaded guilty to is a Class A misdemeanor, the most serious misdemeanor classification under Kentucky law, applying when a public servant knowingly performs an unauthorized act tied to his office with intent to gain a benefit or deprive someone else of one, per the Legislative Research Commission. Once released, Mayfield will be required to register as a lifetime sex offender.
Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Still Pending
Beyond the criminal case, a federal civil rights case captioned Wright v. Mayfield appears on a docket. The case's allegations and any civil liability for Shelby County are not established here.
Ashcraft was appointed Shelby County Jailer by County Judge Executive Dan Ison in April 2024, following the retirement of longtime Jailer Darrell Cox, according to a statement Ison posted on Facebook. Ashcraft holds the Shelby County jailer position.
Inside the Shelby County Detention Center
The Shelby County Detention Center, located at 1000 Bobby Waits Lane in Shelbyville, is a detention facility, according to Jail Exchange. The available information does not establish the Shelbyville Police Department's jail arrangements or a shared intake and custody role for the detention center.
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