Karen Payton, 47, is a jail guard at the Mecklenburg County Jail in Charlotte, NC. On October 5, 2021 Karen was arrested and criminally charged with engaging in a sexual act with a male inmate.
Karen is also accused of providing a tobacco product to a jail inmate. When jail staff learned of the alleged incidents, Karen was fired on October 5. Warrants were issued for her arrest. It is not known how jail staff became aware of the alleged actions.
Karen employment with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office began on August 14, 2019. Several jail guards have been arrested this year.
Jail guard Kyle Harris, 28, was arrested after being accused of sexually assaulting a male inmate.
Chandler Craig, 29, was arrested on September 22, 2021, accused of assaulting an inmate.
Jail guard Destiny Harris, 23, pleaded guilty to helping 2 inmates escape.
