School resource officer arrested for sexual assault allegations, fired from sheriff’s office

WARNER ROBINS — A former Houston County deputy is facing charges for alleged sexual assault.

Jail records show Nakia Benefield was arrested on June 3. He was charged with false imprisonment, aggravated sexual battery, rape and violation of oath.

According to a statement from the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, allegations against Benefield surfaced in mid-May. 

On May 18, the Warner Robins Police Department responded to a possible sexual assault. Benefield was identified during the investigation as a likely suspect. 

At the time of the incident, he was employed as a school resource officer with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office. He had been working there since July 2023.

Houston County Sheriff Matt Moulton said Benefield worked for Northside High School. He confirmed with the Houston Home Journal that the incident did not occur on campus and the victim was not a student or faculty member.

Benefield was placed on administrative leave, then the sheriff’s office began an internal affairs investigation. They identified policy violations, and on May 19, Benefield was suspended without pay.

Benefield had a chance to appeal, but did not file one. His employment was formally terminated on June 1.

Sheriff Matt Moulton said the office fully cooperated with the WRPD and the Houston County District Attorney’s Office. He also acknowledged the incident’s severity.

“Allegations of criminal misconduct involving a law enforcement officer are among the most serious matters any agency can face,” Moulton said in the statement. “Such allegations are taken seriously, investigated thoroughly, and addressed decisively. In this case, immediate action was taken to remove Deputy Benefield from active duty while both the criminal and administrative investigations were conducted.” 

Benefield’s arrest follows an unrelated, but similar, incident in the Houston County Detention Center in mid-May, where a deputy was arrested for allegedly kissing an inmate.

In light of this most recent case, Moulton said the majority of deputies serve honorably.

“The actions of one individual do not define the character of this organization or the dedicated public servants who wear this badge,” he said.

He also said that trust is important and community relations depend on accountability, transparency, and professionalism.

“Without trust, there can be no partnership,” he said. “The Houston County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of conduct and will continue to hold all employees accountable for their actions.”