A former deputy sheriff with the Dallas County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office was sentenced today in the Southern District of Alabama to 12 and a half years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman while he was on duty.

According to the superseding information and plea documents, on Jan. 30, 2020, Joshua Davidson, 33, while on duty as a Dallas County deputy sheriff, placed the victim in custody and drove her down a dark road to a desolate location where the victim performed oral sex on him against her will. The victim, who reported the assault immediately, was in fear that Davidson would shoot her if she did not cooperate.

“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.”

“The citizens of Dallas County rightfully rely on their law enforcement officers to serve and protect them, not assault and abuse them,” said U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello for the Southern District of Alabama. “Some criminals wear a badge, and we will continue to hold accountable those who violate the law and erode the trust of our community.”

“All law enforcement officers must adhere to the highest standard of professional conduct,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown for the FBI Mobile Field Office. “Whenever someone chooses to violate the civil rights of the people they are sworn to protect, they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

The FBI Mobile Field Office investigated the case.

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.