Riot breaks out at county jail. — Page 2A Sheriff candidates discuss campaigns. — Page 5A Friday Oct. 30,
2015
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 119, No. 260
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 22 pages • Two sections
State removes all Alcorn inmates Agents confiscate master keys, knives, cell phones, street clothes
County could lose $442,000 in revenue
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
It’s all for the safety of the public. The Mississippi Department of Corrections suspended its Alcorn County contract and removed all 240 state inmates from the Regional Correctional Facility on Thursday. The move came after the state auditor’s office received multiple allegations of public safety concerns, mismanagement at the facility and misuse of taxpayer dollars. “It was like a free-for-all going on here at the correctional facility,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering, as he addressed the media outside the front doors of the Alcorn County Justice Center. MDOC agents executed a search of the facility prior to the out-processing of inmates. K-9 units were used and an alarming amount of contraband was found on inmates and inside jail cells. “These allegations were disturbing to hear,” said MDOC Commissioner Marshall Fisher. “Inmates allegedly were allowed to change uniforms, disguising their custody status, work on personal vehicles and go across state lines.” Agents uncovered around three dozen cell phones, multiple electronic devices, knives, shanks, razors, several sets of clothes, shoes, jewelry, tobacco, potential drugs, scales and at least two sets of master keys to the facility. “Keys to the commissary and the front door were found on an inmate,” said Fisher. Inmates, both minimumnon-community and mediumcustody, were placed on eight MDOC buses to await transport to other facilities across the state. “The removal of inmates should not be a bad reflection on Corinth and Alcorn County,” said Fisher. “In the future, I’m sure we will be back in this community, but it will be on different terms.” Fisher added state inmates would not return to Alcorn County until after a new sheriff takes office and a new plan of action is submitted and approved. Sheriff Charles Rinehart was not available for comment. All four candidates in Tuesday’s general election for sheriff were on the scene. Rinehart is not seeking reelection. In November 2013, MDOC stopped sending inmates to the facility after learning several ineligible inmates were given unauthorized weekend passes by Rinehart. One of those inmates died while out, prompting an MDOC investigation. The county was later cleared by the state and began receiving inmates again. Earlier this year, Rinehart
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photos by Zack Steen
Mississippi Department of Corrections agents uncovered a large amount of contraband on inmates and in their jail cells, including cell phones, various weapons, electronic devices and scales.
All 240 state inmates at the Alcorn County Regional Correctional Facility were loaded onto Mississippi Department of Corrections buses Thursday to be transported to other facilities in the state. was also issued an civil demand for more than $180,000, for funds misappropriated by his department relating to The Alcorn County Regional Correctional Facility Technology Fund, The Alcorn County Sheriff’s Commissary Account, and The Alcorn County Regional Correctional Facility. “I thank State Auditor Stacey Pickering’s office for bringing these serious allegations to our attention,” Fisher added. “The alleged actions indicate clear violations of MDOC practices and procedures. Therefore, we were compelled to act accordingly. I want to be clear, we have zero tolerance for such flippant practices.” Both Fisher and Pickering also thanked the Corinth Police Department for its continued assistance in the investiPlease see INMATES | 2A
Agents discovered two sets of master keys to the facility. One set was found on an inmate.
The loss of state inmates in Alcorn County could create a huge financial burden in the Crossroads area. Board of Supervisors President Lowell Hinton said if something isn’t worked out with the Mississippi Department of Corrections soon, the loss of funds will have a tremendous impact on Alcorn County. Prior to Thursday’s MDOC’s removal of all 240 inmates, the county received $29.74 per day to house each inmate in the Alcorn County Regional Correctional Facility. The county used the money to help pay the bond which was used to build the Alcorn County Justice Center, which houses the correctional facility. If inmates are not returned to Alcorn County before January 2016, the county would lose more than $442,000. Hinton, however, believes there is a provision in the county’s contract with MDOC. “Our lawyers are trying to verify the contract language,” said Hinton. “We believe that the state will be required to continue making monthly payments whether we house inmates or not.” According to Hinton, the board hasn’t discussed what would happen or how they would continue paying on the bond if they did not receive state inmate money. He has, however, already began working with MDOC on a solution. “We want this resolved as quickly as possible,” Hinton added. “I’m trying to get a list of the requirements and the things we need to do before we can receive inmates again, but right now there are lots of unknowns.” MDOC Commissioner Marshall Fisher said inmates would not return to the facility until a new sheriff is in office. The general election to decide such is Tuesday, but the sheriff elect would not take over until January 2016. Hinton said he was surprised by Thursday’s removal. “No one knew they were coming or what was going on,” he said. “We basically knew it at the moment they drove up on the yard.” MDOC agents recovered cell Please see REVENUE | 6A
25 years ago
10 years ago
The Corinth Fire Department and Corinth Junior Auxiliary team up for their annual Christmas Toy Drive. Firemen Kenneth Castile and Charles Barnett are among those helping to gather and organize toys for children in need.
Magnolia Regional Health Center announces a major upgrade to its imaging capabilities. The new MRI machine, with a 1.5 Tesla magnet, brings the latest in medical technology to Corinth.
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