A Richmond County detention officer is behind bars after being arrested for providing crack cocaine to inmates, according to sheriff reports.
Corey McPhaul, 36, of Hamlet, was arrested on Sunday by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office after a sting operation caught McPhaul in the act, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
According to sheriff reports, an inmate at the Richmond County Jail told a detective that McPhaul was bringing drugs into the jail for inmates. The Sheriff’s Office provided the inmate with $40 for him to give to McPhaul in exchange for crack cocaine that had been placed by the detective in the arm of the jail dumpster, the sheriff report said.
“Around 1:30 a.m., McPhaul exited the jail and went to the dumpster and got the bag containing the cocaine from the dumpster arm,” the report said, “When McPhaul entered back inside the jail, detectives entered the jail and took McPhaul into custody.”
“McPhaul was advised of his Miranda Rights and he waived and agreed to talk. McPhaul stated he always does it, but don’t give the contraband to inmates, he takes the money, finds out where the items are and destroys it and gives them their money back,” the report said.
Richmond County Sheriff James Clemmons Jr. said the Sheriff’s Office is unsure of how long McPhaul has been bringing contraband into the jail and how many inmates McPhaul has provided with contraband.
Clemmons said the Sheriff’s Office has “… zero tolerance for employees that break the law.”
“We, as officers, are held to a higher standard, and that standard at the Sheriff’s Office will be maintained at all times,” he said.
Clemmons said that it does not matter who the individual is or their standing in the community, corruption will not be swept under the rug or ignored.
McPhaul has been charged with one count of possession of controlled substance/jail premises, one count providing drugs to inmate, two counts felony possession of cocaine and two counts conspire deliver cocaine. He was placed in a facility outside of Richmond County under a $100,000 secure bond.
Clemmons said he couldn’t comment on the origin of the crack cocaine used in the sting.
— Staff Writer Laura Edington can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 18, or by email at ledington@civitasmedia.com.
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