DeKalb County District Attorney
11/21/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/21/2024 13:52
DA BOSTON ANNOUNCES INDICTMENTS IN TWO CASES RELATED TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY INSIDE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL
November 21, 2024
State v. Joann Marks
State v. Tobias Woods
Decatur, Ga.-DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces the indictments of two individuals - a former Sheriff's Deputy and an inmate awaiting trial - who have been charged in connection with alleged criminal activity inside the DeKalb County Jail.
Former Deputy Joann Marks, 27, was indicted Tuesday by a DeKalb County Grand Jury on charges of Sexual Contact by an Employee or Agent in the First Degree, two counts of Violation of Oath by a Public Officer, and Items Prohibited for Possession by Inmates.
In April 2024, jail employees found a contraband cell phone and cigarettes during a search of an inmate's cell. As part of their investigation into the contraband, they interviewed Deputy Marks who worked in the jail. Deputy Marks admitted to giving the cell phone and cigarettes to the inmate. She also admitted to having sexual intercourse with the inmate. The Sheriff's Office arrested and fired Deputy Marks the same day. After completing an investigation, the Sheriff's Office of Professional Standards turned their file over to the District Attorney's Office for review.
Defendant Marks turned herself in to the DeKalb County Jail this morning. The case against Defendant Marks has been assigned to DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Courtney L. Johnson and her arraignment has been scheduled for December 23. The case will be prosecuted by the District Attorney's Anti-Corruption Unit.
In a separate case, former inmate Tobias Woods, 45, was also indicted Tuesday by a DeKalb County Grand Jury on charges of Felony Murder, two counts of Distribution of Controlled Substances, and Items Prohibited for Possession by Inmates.
The charges against Woods stem from the death of fellow DeKalb County Jail inmate Christon Collins, 27. According to the preliminary investigation, surveillance video from inside the jail the afternoon of March 13, 2024 shows Collins visibly stumbling around the common area of his assigned pod. At one point, he slumps against a wall and then falls. He appears to hit his head on his way to the floor. Inmates moved Collins to his cell, and eventually to a mattress on the floor of the day room. It wasn't until hours later - around 7:40 that evening - that jail personnel discovered Collins and called in paramedics to transport him to the hospital. Collins died two days later.
The DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office performed an autopsy and determined that Collins died of a Fentanyl overdose. Through an investigation performed by the District Attorney's Office, it was determined that inmate Tobias Woods sold the drug to Collins and another inmate. According to witnesses, Woods also actively worked to prevent Collins from getting medical assistance so that he wouldn't get caught.
After Collins fell, Woods was the one captured on surveillance video dragging Collins into his cell - and out of the view of jail staff.
Following his indictment, a Grand Jury warrant was issued for the arrest of Defendant Woods. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Unit took Woods into custody Wednesday afternoon. His case will be assigned to a Superior Court Judge and scheduled for arraignment. The case will be prosecuted by the District Attorney's Major Crimes Division.
"Our investigation into the death of Christon Collins and how those deadly drugs got into the jail is still open and active," said District Attorney Boston. "Crimes that happen inside the jail will not be ignored just because the people impacted are behind bars."
State v. Joann Marks
State v. Tobias Woods
Decatur, Ga.-DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces the indictments of two individuals - a former Sheriff's Deputy and an inmate awaiting trial - who have been charged in connection with alleged criminal activity inside the DeKalb County Jail.
Former Deputy Joann Marks, 27, was indicted Tuesday by a DeKalb County Grand Jury on charges of Sexual Contact by an Employee or Agent in the First Degree, two counts of Violation of Oath by a Public Officer, and Items Prohibited for Possession by Inmates.
In April 2024, jail employees found a contraband cell phone and cigarettes during a search of an inmate's cell. As part of their investigation into the contraband, they interviewed Deputy Marks who worked in the jail. Deputy Marks admitted to giving the cell phone and cigarettes to the inmate. She also admitted to having sexual intercourse with the inmate. The Sheriff's Office arrested and fired Deputy Marks the same day. After completing an investigation, the Sheriff's Office of Professional Standards turned their file over to the District Attorney's Office for review.
Defendant Marks turned herself in to the DeKalb County Jail this morning. The case against Defendant Marks has been assigned to DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Courtney L. Johnson and her arraignment has been scheduled for December 23. The case will be prosecuted by the District Attorney's Anti-Corruption Unit.
In a separate case, former inmate Tobias Woods, 45, was also indicted Tuesday by a DeKalb County Grand Jury on charges of Felony Murder, two counts of Distribution of Controlled Substances, and Items Prohibited for Possession by Inmates.
The charges against Woods stem from the death of fellow DeKalb County Jail inmate Christon Collins, 27. According to the preliminary investigation, surveillance video from inside the jail the afternoon of March 13, 2024 shows Collins visibly stumbling around the common area of his assigned pod. At one point, he slumps against a wall and then falls. He appears to hit his head on his way to the floor. Inmates moved Collins to his cell, and eventually to a mattress on the floor of the day room. It wasn't until hours later - around 7:40 that evening - that jail personnel discovered Collins and called in paramedics to transport him to the hospital. Collins died two days later.
The DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office performed an autopsy and determined that Collins died of a Fentanyl overdose. Through an investigation performed by the District Attorney's Office, it was determined that inmate Tobias Woods sold the drug to Collins and another inmate. According to witnesses, Woods also actively worked to prevent Collins from getting medical assistance so that he wouldn't get caught.
After Collins fell, Woods was the one captured on surveillance video dragging Collins into his cell - and out of the view of jail staff.
Following his indictment, a Grand Jury warrant was issued for the arrest of Defendant Woods. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Unit took Woods into custody Wednesday afternoon. His case will be assigned to a Superior Court Judge and scheduled for arraignment. The case will be prosecuted by the District Attorney's Major Crimes Division.
"Our investigation into the death of Christon Collins and how those deadly drugs got into the jail is still open and active," said District Attorney Boston. "Crimes that happen inside the jail will not be ignored just because the people impacted are behind bars."