Former Union County jail officer pleads guilty to sexual assault

Sentenced to 5 years probation

A former officer with the Union County Detention Center pleaded guilty on Thursday to two counts of sexual assault, 4th degree, and was sentenced to five years of probation, according to court records.

Michael A. Vick, 39, was first arrested last December following an investigation into alleged inappropriate behavior with a female inmate at the jail.

Court records state that Vick spoke with Union County Sheriffs Office investigators following his arrest and admitted to sexual contact on two occasions with a female inmate at the county jail.

Video obtained by investigators allegedly shows "four known instances" of Vick going with the inmate to a utility closet located "at the end of the hall in the female block" in the jail, according to court records. Vick also told investigators he brought nicotine pouches to the inmate in question and, "when asked if he was given anything in exchange for this... Vick stated that he had been given oral sex by [the inmate.]"

Vick was initially charged with four counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and pleaded guilty to two counts as part of a plea deal.

Fourth-degree sexual assault, a Class D felony, is defined in Arkansas code as sexual contact between an employee of a city or county jail or state prison and an inmate in that detention facility.

Sheriff Ricky Roberts announced Vick's termination and arrest in December and told the News-Times that another jail employee reporting seeing "inappropriate" behavior between Vick and a female jail inmate, prompting the investigation.

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