Escambia deputy sheriff jailed for having sex with girl he just arrested

Lambeth facing felonies for sexual encounter with female suspect

An Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff's Office deputy was fired and arrested for alledgely having a sexual encounter with a female suspect he arrested on drug charges.

Eric Glenn Lambeth, Jr., 25, 6159 Upper Creek Road, Flomaton, was arrested Friday morning and charged with an ethics violation and custodial sexual abuse. Circuit Judge Jeff White set Lambeth's bond at $45,000 and he was later released from the Escambia County Detention Center.

Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson said a complaint was received on April 4 claiming Lambeth had sexual contact with an inmate who he was transporting to the jail.

According to court records, Lambeth arrested a 39-year old female April 2 on charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. The alleged sexual contact occurred after her arrest and prior to her being transported to jail.

Lambeth had previously worked in the county jail and was assigned to patrol and sent to the police academy at the beginning of 2022.

During Friday's bond hearing, Lambeth requested a court-appointed attorney and Judge White appointed the public defender's office to represent him.

Sheriff Jackson asked Judge White to take into consideration that Lambeth could be a flight risk, noting he was a trained law enforcement officer and a trained correctional office. The sheriff also asked that a condition of his bond was to have Lambeth return sheriff's office equipment in his possession back to the sheriff's office.

Judge White set the bond at $45,000 on the Class C and Class B felony charges and ordered Lambeth to be placed on house arrest. Lambeth was also ordered to return his sheriff's equipment to the sheriff's office within 72 hours of his released. Another condition on his bond was that Lambeth have no contact with the alleged victim.