MONTGOMERY, ALA. — A federal jury found Markelle Jaquan Cox guilty on seven counts involving rights deprivation and obstruction of justice. The jury determined that Cox used his authority as a law enforcement officer to facilitate the abuse and provided false information to investigators to obstruct the investigation. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months.

On October 20, 2023, Cox, then a Montgomery Police Department officer, responded to a shoplifting report at a department store on Eastern Boulevard. Cox handcuffed the victim and escorted her to his patrol vehicle. While the victim was restrained, Cox engaged in unlawful sexual contact, including touching intimate areas of her body, with some touching occurring under her clothing.

Cox removed the handcuffs and forced the victim to touch him. Cox used a translation app to solicit sex because the victim did not speak English. Cox directed the victim to unlock her phone so he could add his phone number before letting her leave. The victim contacted 911 and went to Montgomery Police Department headquarters to file a complaint. The Montgomery Police Department opened an investigation and interviewed Cox, who denied the allegations. Body-camera footage corroborated the victim’s account. Cox continued to deny wrongdoing after being told of the evidence. A search of both phones confirmed the added phone number and use of the translation app. The case was investigated by the Montgomery Police Department and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Counts, Christine Levi, and Faith Mote of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama.

Timeline

Cox handcuffed the victim and escorted her to his patrol vehicle. While the victim was restrained, Cox engaged in unlawful sexual contact, including touching intimate areas of her body, with some touching occurring under her clothing. Cox removed the handcuffs and forced the victim to touch him. Cox used a translation app to solicit sex because the victim did not speak English. Cox directed the victim to unlock her phone so he could add his phone number before letting her leave. The victim contacted 911 and went to Montgomery Police Department headquarters to file a complaint.

On September 18, 2026, a federal jury found Markelle Jaquan Cox, 32, guilty on four counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and three counts of obstruction of justice.

How Sources Differ

Montgomeryindependent.com reported that on September 18, 2026, a federal jury found Markelle Jaquan Cox, 32, guilty on four counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and three counts of obstruction of justice. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama press release stated that a federal jury convicted Markelle Jaquan Cox on four counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and three counts of obstruction of justice.

Why It Matters

The conviction addresses the use of official authority to facilitate abuse and the provision of false information to obstruct an investigation. The case involved a non-English-speaking suspect and digital evidence from translation apps and phones.