Former Georgia Corrections Officer Sentenced in Floyd County Jail Assault Case

TWLN Staff Reporter | The Weekly Ledger News | Area News

ROME, Ga. — A former Georgia Department of Corrections (GDOC) officer has been sentenced to prison time and probation for his role in a violent assault on an inmate at the Floyd County Jail. This case has drawn scrutiny to misconduct and abuse of authority within the corrections system.

Joshua Lee Riddle, 32, was sentenced Thursday by Floyd County Superior Court Judge Kay Ann King to two years in prison followed by eight years of probation after pleading guilty to battery, cruelty to an inmate, and violation of his oath of office. The assault occurred in November while the inmate was being transported from the county jail to the state prison.

According to prosecutors, Riddle attacked the inmate inside the jail, threatening to kill him and causing serious injuries. Assistant District Attorney Natalee Staats told the court the beating resulted in lasting hearing and vision problems for the victim. The inmate had previously been sentenced to prison on child molestation charges.

Riddle was one of five individuals charged in connection with the incident. Staats acknowledged Riddle’s previously unblemished record and 10 years of service, noting that he fully cooperated with investigators following the incident.

“He fully cooperated with the GBI and even tried very hard not to implicate anyone else,” Staats said. “And he told almost anyone who would listen what he had done.”

Investigators allege that former GDOC investigator Hannah Danielle Rittweger provided Riddle with the inmate’s name prior to the assault. Former GDOC officer Donna Michelle Pettyjohn is accused of checking whether surveillance cameras were present in the jail’s dress-out area before the attack occurred.

Additionally, former GDOC officer Billy Joe Lingerfelt and former Floyd County Sheriff’s Office deputy Logan Eugene Nelson were charged in the case. Prosecutors allege they acted as lookouts and later attempted to conceal the assault, with all five accused of participating in efforts to cover up the incident.

While recognizing Riddle’s cooperation and prior service, Staats emphasized that corrections officers are entrusted with custody and care — not punishment.

“Riddle was given the trust by the Department of Corrections,” Staats said. “Their officers are not in the business of punishing inmates.”

During sentencing, Judge King acknowledged the significant personal consequences Riddle has already faced, including the loss of his job and the impact on his family.

“You lost your job, which was a good one, and this has affected your family and employability, plus you have a young daughter,” King said from the bench. “But your job as a corrections officer is not to punish a child molester for his crimes, no matter how bad they are.”

The case remains part of a broader prosecution involving multiple former law enforcement and corrections officials accused of abusing their authority and attempting to conceal the assault.

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©️2026 The Weekly Ledger News. All rights reserved. Portions of this report are based on information originally reported by Northwest Georgia News and supplemented with additional reporting by The Weekly Ledger News.