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| Three ex-jailers convicted on felony charge, misdemeanors |
| By Benton Courier |
| Published: 07/08/2004 |
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Three former Saline County (Ark.) jailers were convicted yesterday on a felony charge for drinking alcohol with inmates during an October night shift. The men were charged with furnishing prohibited articles into a correctional facility and on misdemeanor charges of theft of property (less than $500). Twenty-two-year-old John Hood, 21-year-old Christopher Daniel Carman and 32-year-old Michael Todd McEuen, all of Saline County, pleaded guilty today in Circuit before Judge Grisham Phillips to the crimes. Carman pleaded no contest to misdemeanor theft of $14 stolen. "A felony conviction for stealing $14 and drinking some beer is a pretty tough sentence but we cannot tolerate this kind of behavior out of our public servants," Herzfeld said. The former deputies were arrested Oct. 8, 2003, for stealing money from jail inmates' property; driving to the county line to buy beer; taking the beer back to the jail and drinking the alcohol with inmate Jason Basham, who was awaiting trial on rape, domestic battery, terroristic threatening and for escaping the Saline County jail in June 2003. McEuen, who was the shift supervisor, received 30 days in jail, five years felony probation and a $10,000 fine. Hood and Carman received 10 days in jail, three years felony probation and $5,000 fines. Herzfeld, who was assisted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Emily White, said: "These men disgraced their department, and betrayed the trust of the people of Saline County. This is a very stiff sentence, and I hope it sends a message that we will stamp down hard on corrupt behavior in this county. The old days and the old ways are over." Sheriff Phil Mask said the jailers' action does not represent the Sheriff's Department. "But we had to do the right thing in conducting an investigation and the investigation showed that they were drinking beer in the jail. We had to take the appropriate necessary action." The sheriff added that it's hard to terminate employees, "but when their conduct violates the public's trust, their action has to be deemed." The defendants were represented by attorneys Joe Hardin and Richard Mattison. Attempts to reach defense attorneys were unsuccessful. |
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