Story updated to correct attribution to some comments.
Concerns over alleged inhumane conditions at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center have ignited public outcry on social media, prompting a detailed response from jail leadership.
A comment posted on the Augusta Connect Facebook page criticized the detention center for what the commenter described as “inhumane” living conditions. The post described extreme heat inside the facility, black mold, ant infestations, cold showers, and inmates being denied outdoor access and fresh air.
“Our family and friends are being held at Charles B. Webster Detention Center… and the conditions are inhumane,” the post reads. “It’s hot as hell in there. The walls are literally sweating… Some are sleeping on mats on the floor… They haven’t even been let outside for fresh air. Not once. Weeks. No sunlight. No break… This is about basic human rights.”
The commenter concluded with a call for accountability: “If we do nothing… THEY DO NOTHING! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.”
In response, Maj. Chester Huffman, head of the detention center, acknowledged some maintenance issues but pushed back against claims of widespread neglect.
“We are aware that F-Pod was warm [Monday] and warmer [Monday] evening,” Maj. Huffman stated in a message to The Jail Report. “We had Trane, the county’s contractor, in [Tuesday] morning to resolve the issue… At 9 a.m. the temp at the register was in the 40s.”
Maj. Huffman detailed recent efforts to address problems with the facility’s infrastructure, including a $17,000 investment in shower renovations and an ongoing contract with Orkin to address insect control. He also cited staffing and inmate behavior as contributing challenges to maintaining cleanliness.
“Any issues with mold, mildew, and just plain dirt are being addressed,” the major added, noting the recent creation of a night-shift sanitation crew.
Chief of Staff Lewis Blanchard conceded that not every complaint at the jail could be addressed in full, he said many of the claims were “completely false or extremely exaggerated.” He emphasized that issues like lack of air conditioning are not unique to Webster, noting that only about 25% of Georgia prisons have AC and many jails do not.
“The jail will never meet the standards or expectations of the inmates,” Chief Blanchard said, “but it is certainly not inhumane for the employees or inmates.”
Sheriff Richard Roundtree’s successor, Sheriff Eugene Brantley, has reportedly expanded pest control to include all areas of the jail and implemented cleanliness-focused reforms in 2025. Despite these measures, public concern continues to grow, fueled by posts from family members and former inmates calling for transparency and improved conditions.
