As Richmond County locks down its jail after realizing deputies were smuggling in contraband, a former guard at the Augusta State Medical Prison is indicted for trading drugs with inmates.
Keyera Barnes, 32, of Fenwick Street, was caught with 28 grams of meth that she smuggled into the Grovetown prison to trade with inmates earlier this fall, authorities said. The guard allegedly traded meth as well as marijuana and tobacco with inmates.
Barnes was initially arrested on Sept. 26, but the Richmond County Grand Jury indicted her Tuesday for these charges:
• Trafficking methamphetamine or amphetamine
• Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
• Crossing guard lines with drugs
• Furnishing prohibited items to inmates
• Trading with inmates and violation of oath by public officer
Ironically, Barnes is currently at the same jail that has been placed on lockdown for contraband problems of its own. According to a press release, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office received information over the weekend that inmates in a detention pod at the county jail had phones and other contraband.
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“A subsequent search did in fact reveal the presence of cell phones, tobacco products and homemade edged weapons,” sheriff’s Sgt. William McCarty said Tuesday. “As the investigation and search spread to the entire jail, more contraband was located and several deputies were implicated as being the source of the contraband being smuggled into the jail.”
Several arrests are possible as the agency conducts simultaneous criminal and internal investigations. Meanwhile, the jail is on temporary lockdown and visitation has been suspended until further notice, Sgt. McCarty said.
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report Contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com
