LA PLATA, Md. — A former Charles County correctional officer received a 90-day jail sentence for misconduct involving an inmate at the local detention center, highlighting ongoing efforts to uphold standards in the county’s correctional system. Kolbey Cooper, 23, of Waldorf, appeared before Circuit Court Judge Makeba Gibbs on Aug. 21, 2025, where he was sentenced for misconduct in office and contraband delivery. Upon completing his jail term, Cooper will serve five years of supervised probation. A violation of probation terms could result in an additional two years and 275 days behind bars.
The case stems from incidents reported in February 2025 at the Charles County Detention Center, where Cooper had worked for about two years. Fellow officers alerted supervisors to potential inappropriate conversations between Cooper and a female inmate, prompting an immediate internal investigation by the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives uncovered evidence that Cooper exchanged notes with the inmate, kissed her once in a hallway, provided her with candy, and allowed her to use his vape pen, classified as contraband under Maryland law. These actions violated facility protocols designed to maintain security and prevent exploitation.
Cooper resigned from his position before entering a guilty plea on June 5, 2025, to the charges of misconduct in office and contraband delivery. Originally indicted by a grand jury on March 28, 2025, he faced more serious accusations, including two counts of sexual contact with an incarcerated individual and two counts of fourth-degree sex offense, in addition to the contraband charge. The indictment followed his arrest on a criminal warrant that same evening, after which he was released under electronic monitoring on March 31, 2025.
During the Aug. 21 sentencing hearing, the prosecuting attorney described Cooper’s actions as taking advantage of the situation. She told the judge, “It affected not only [the victim] but it affects the community at large. The community needs to believe, respect, and trust that the individuals in the jail are going to perform their duties in a responsible way.” Judge Gibbs addressed Cooper directly before imposing the sentence, stating, “These rules are in place for a reason to protect people.” She added that his role was one “that people look up to and people depend on you to maintain the integrity of that position.”
The sentence breaks down as follows: for misconduct in office, three years with all suspended; for contraband delivery, three years with all but 90 days suspended. This outcome reflects Maryland’s legal framework for such offenses. Misconduct in office, a common law misdemeanor in the state, involves corrupt behavior by a public officer in the exercise of their duties. It carries potential penalties up to 10 years in prison, depending on the circumstances, as outlined in recent legislative discussions aimed at clarifying maximum sentences for repeated acts. Contraband delivery to a place of confinement is prohibited under Maryland’s Criminal Law Article, Section 9-412, which bans providing unauthorized items to detainees. Contraband is defined broadly as any item not permitted by the facility’s managing official, including substances like e-cigarettes that could compromise security or health protocols. Penalties for this offense can include up to three years imprisonment, aligning with the suspended portions of Cooper’s sentence.
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office, which oversees the detention center in La Plata, emphasized accountability throughout the process. Sheriff Troy D. Berry stated after the guilty plea, “With this guilty plea, this former corrections officer has been held accountable by our agency and the legal process. We remain committed to maintaining the integrity of our correctional system and the public’s trust.” In an earlier statement following the indictment, Berry noted, “The integrity of our correctional system is paramount. We hold our officers to the highest standards, and when that trust is broken, we take swift and decisive action to hold those responsible accountable.” The office’s Office of Professional Responsibility conducted a parallel administrative investigation to review policy compliance, a standard step in cases of alleged Charles County correctional officer misconduct.
This incident is not isolated in Southern Maryland’s correctional history. In 2022, another Charles County correctional officer pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of misconduct in office for similar boundary violations. That case, reported in local outlets, involved inappropriate conduct and resulted in probation without jail time. Separately, in 2023, a former prison guard from Waldorf in neighboring Prince George’s County admitted to a drug conspiracy involving an inmate, leading to federal charges. These examples underscore the challenges facilities face in preventing exploitation, particularly in environments where power imbalances exist between staff and inmates.
The Charles County Detention Center, which houses detainees from the tri-county area including Calvert and St. Mary’s counties, has a track record of strong oversight. In 2022, it achieved a perfect compliance score during an audit by the Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards, demonstrating adherence to state guidelines on operations, safety, and inmate care. The facility offers programs like inmate education and health services, but incidents of Charles County correctional officer misconduct can erode public confidence in these institutions. Local leaders have consistently prioritized training and recruitment to bolster staff integrity, with recent graduations from the Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy adding new officers equipped to handle such responsibilities.
Community members in Charles County, familiar with the detention center’s role in maintaining public safety, expect transparency in handling such breaches. The swift response in Cooper’s case—from initial reports to sentencing—illustrates the system’s mechanisms for addressing Charles County correctional officer misconduct. As the facility continues operations amid ongoing recruitment efforts, including sign-on bonuses for new hires, the focus remains on preventing future violations through rigorous vetting and continuous professional development.
In broader context, Maryland’s correctional laws aim to protect vulnerable populations in custody. The prohibition on sexual contact with inmates, for instance, carries potential felony penalties to deter abuse of authority. While Cooper’s plea reduced the charges, the jail time serves as a deterrent, reinforcing that positions of trust in corrections demand unwavering ethical conduct.