Two Former Nacogdoches Jail Employees Indicted for Misconduct

According to a release from the Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Office, two former county correctional officers have been indicted on felony charges for misconduct during their time as employees of the Nacogdoches County jail.

Stephanie Moore, 28, (pictured at left) and Jamie Stephens, 19, were both indicted on two counts of improper sexual activity with a person in custody by a Nacogdoches County grand jury. Moore’s charges are second-degree felonies and her bond was set at $100,000. Stephens’ charges are state-jail felonies and her bond was set at $50,000. Both were arrested and bonded out of the Nacogdoches County jail on Monday, February 28.

The charges stem from separate, unrelated alleged incidents during their employment. Moore was hired as a correctional officer in the Nacogdoches County jail in June 2021 and Stephens was hired in April 2021. Allegations of improper activity were made against Moore in January 2022, and she was immediately put on administrative leave. Stephens was accused and placed on administrative leave in August 2021.

Once the investigations were complete, and the information was turned over to the Nacogdoches County District Attorney’s Office, both individuals were terminated as NCSO employees. Moore was terminated in January 2022 and Stephens was terminated in August 2021.

The allegations were investigated by detectives within the NCSO Criminal Investigations Division. The Texas Rangers also investigated the allegations against Moore. Texas Rangers are routinely assigned to investigate incidents in correctional facilities throughout the state.

During the 87th Legislature in 2021, Texas lawmakers passed SB312, which increased the charge of improper sexual activity with a person in custody from a state-jail felony to a second-degree felony, effective September 1, 2021.