County inmate faces jail contraband charges

Jason A. Gadberry

CHARLESTON -- A Mississippi County inmate is facing a felony contraband charge after a jail cell search led to the discovery of contraband.

Jason Allen Gadberry, 37, of Fenton is charged with felony possession of a weapon/dangerous item in a county jail and misdemeanor possession of a prohibited item in a county jail.

Mississippi County Sheriff Keith Moore said the items were found during a weekend cell search conducted by corrections officers. The search took place Saturday evening after the corrections officers noticed several inmates converging in one cell in E-pod of the Mississippi County Detention Center, according to a report by Jail Administrator Cory Hutcheson.

At that time, the corrections officers entered the pod to investigate and located two hand-rolled cigarettes concealed inside the cell occupied by Gadberry. A cigarette lighter was found concealed within the inmate's undergarments in a subsequent search.

The corrections officers seized the items and then turned them over to Hutcheson for placement into evidence.

Following the search, a videotaped interview conducted by Hutcheson and Deputy Mike Borders led to the development of probable cause to believe Gadberry had possessed and concealed the lighter in the jail despite knowing it to be dangerous contraband.

"The Mississippi County Detention Center prohibits the possession of lighters and tobacco products and this rule is posted throughout the facility," the sheriff said. "A cigarette lighter is dangerous contraband because its sole purpose is to create fire, and the presence of such an item in a county jail presents a health and safety hazard to inmates and staff alike."

Bond for Gadberry was set at $50,000.

For this story and more, see the Wednesday edition of the Standard Democrat.