Former Dawson County Sheriffs Deputy Mark Caruana turned himself in Tuesday following charges related to an incident late last month.

The complaint came from a 24-year-old woman, who told officers that Caruana, 48, had responded to a legitimate call at her home earlier in the day, returned to her home later that same day.

Caruana, 48, was has been charged with false statements, simple battery and sexual battery by the Georgia Bereau of Investigations.

We decided to turn the investigation over to GBI based on the severity of the issue and the fact that it was within our office, said DCSO Captain Tony Wooten.

Caruana was charged with felony false statements concealing facts from Dawson County Sheriffs Chief Deputy John Cagle - who was investigating the complaint of sexual assault. Caruana later admitted lying to the GBI. He also faces charges for misdemeanor simple battery for allegedly pulling the victim toward him in an insulting and provoking nature and misdemeanor sexual battery for allegedly making contact with the victims buttocks without consent.

Caruana, a Lumpkin County resident, bonded out on $5,000 Tuesday.

We believe that we should be held to higher standards than others, said Wooten. We took these allegations seriously and he was terminated for the alleged incident and for lying.

The alleged incident took place Sept. 28 and Caruana was terminated from the Dawson County Sheriffs Office on Sept. 29. He had been with the department since December 2001.