Detention officer accused of raping prisoner as he took her to jail, NC cops say

A man who served as a jail detention officer is now himself in jail, after an investigation found evidence he raped a female prisoner, according to investigators in eastern North Carolina.

Carl Steven Cohen, 52, was arrested Jan. 23 and charged with first degree kidnapping, second degree forcible rape, and sexual activity by a custodian, the Camden County Sheriff’s Office reported in a Jan. 26 news release.

“The investigation stems from an incident in December where Albemarle District Jail detention officer Carl Steven Cohen ... was responsible for transporting a female inmate between the Albemarle District Jail and the Currituck County Jail detention facilities,” the sheriff’s office said.

“The female inmate reported to the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office that she was sexually assaulted during the transport.”

An investigation was launched after the Camden County Sheriff’s Office established jurisdiction, officials said. The offenses took place on Dec. 5, according to court documents.

Cohen is being held in the Dare County Detention Center without bond, pending his first court appearance, officials said. He lives in Perquimans County.

“This alleged conduct represents a profound breach of public trust and an abuse of authority that is entirely incompatible with the duties and responsibilities entrusted to detention and correctional professionals,” the sheriff’s office said in the release.

“Acts of this nature are reprehensible. Individuals placed in custody are entitled to safety, dignity, and lawful treatment — without exception.”

Camden County is about a 180-mile drive northeast from downtown Raleigh.

This story was originally published January 27, 2026 at 12:10 PM with the headline "Detention officer accused of raping prisoner as he took her to jail, NC cops say."