James Michael Mayes, of Manchester, who is charged with extortion, bribery of a public servant and official misconduct in Coffee County, Tenn.A former Coffee County, Tenn., jailer is behind bars, accused of charging inmates money to smuggle contraband into the jail.
James Michael Mayes, 26, of Coffee County, is charged with extortion, bribery of a public servant and official misconduct after an investigation was launched early last week, Coffee County Sheriff's Office Capt. Frank Watkins said Monday. The investigation was led by Sgt. Danny Ferrell, an investigator for the department.
"Sgt. Ferrell got some information just a few weeks after his employment that [Mayes] was basically smuggling contraband in for a price," Watkins said. "It culminated into an arrest the other day."
According to an affidavit of complaint filed by Ferrell in the case, Mayes on Oct. 20 took $100 from an inmate to allow about one-quarter pound of tobacco into the tobacco-free Coffee County facility after Mayes caught the inmate with the contraband.
Mayes "threatened to lock the inmate down and restrict his privileges if he was not paid," Ferrell states in the affidavit. Mayes "also told the inmate that he could bring anything in the jail that he wanted if he had paid the corrections officer another $150."
The inmate Mayes was contacting cooperated with investigators, Watkins said Monday. And serial numbers on the money "paid" to Mayes were recorded before the exchange so it could be identified, he said.
Mayes was booked Friday night and remains behind bars on a $150,000 bond, according to jail records. He faces a Nov. 17 date in General Sessions Court. There was no attorney listed for Mayes yet on booking records.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.