A Georgia state prison officer has found himself on the wrong side of the bars after being arrested on allegations of sexually assaulting an inmate over whom he had authority, according to officials. Lt. Russell Edwin Clark, who served at Lee Arrendale State Prison in Alto, is now out on bail following charges that he sexually assaulted a female inmate.

The reported assault, said to have occurred in an stairwell of the prison's main dormitories, has led to charges including sexual assault on a person in custody and violation of oath by public officer, as per FOX 5 Atlanta. Clark was booked into the Habersham County Detention Center early last Thursday, indicating a breach in the trust bestowed upon those entrusted to uphold the law behind prison walls.

Upon his release on bond, details surrounding the case remain scant, but the gravity of the accusations looms large. According to a release from Habersham County, as cited by 11Alive, Clark is specifically accused of "improperly touching and kissing a female inmate over whom he had disciplinary authority, willfully and knowingly violating his oath of office."

Any further details regarding the investigation, or Clark's status with the Georgia Department of Corrections, are currently under wraps. Inquiries have been directed to the Georgia Department of Corrections, which is likely in the process of a rigorous internal examination. As this case unfolds, it underscores the continuing struggle to maintain integrity within the ranks of those who operate the gears of the penal system.