Former Alabama deputy sheriff with the Dallas County Sheriff’s office was sentenced Friday to 12 and half years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in his custody.
Joshua Davidson, 33, committed the crime while on duty as Dallas County deputy sheriff on Jan. 30, 2020. According to a statement from the Department of Justice, Davidson put the victim in his custody and then drove to a dark desolate location where the victim was forced to perform oral sex on him. The victim reported the assault immediately and said she feared Davidson would shoot her if she did not cooperate.
In a report by WSFA Davidson was arrested in New Hampshire in July 2020 by the U.S. Marshals Service before being extradited back to Alabama. Davidson was only employed at the sheriff’s office for three months when the incident occurred. In May, Davidson plead guilty to sexually assaulting the woman.
Davidson was sentenced at the U.S District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. Several officials commented on Davidson’s sentencing.
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message that officers who abuse their positions of power to sexually assault women in their custody will face significant prison time for their unlawful actions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will not tolerate sexual misconduct committed by law enforcement officers who were sworn to serve and protect their communities.”
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello for the Southern District of Alabama also made a comment stating, “The citizens of Dallas County rightfully rely on their law enforcement officers to serve and protect them, not assault and abuse them. Some criminals wear a badge, and we will continue to hold accountable those who violate the law and erode the trust of our community.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Arrington for the Southern District of Alabama and Trial Attorneys Maura White and MarLa Duncan of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case. And the case was investigated by the FBI Mobile Field Office.
