A sergeant in the Columbus County Detention Center is out of a job and under arrest after allegedly providing tobacco and a cellphone to an inmate.
Sharon Marie Farmer, 51, was charged with three felony counts of providing electronic devices to an inmate and misdemeanor providing tobacco products. She was placed under a $100,000 secured bond.
In a press release, Sheriff W.A. “Bill” Rogers said an internal investigation showed Farmer developed a relationship with a male inmate at the jail, and supplied the contraband on several occasions. Farmer and the inmate used the cell phones to communicate, the release said.
The internal investigation began after evidence showed Farmer and the inmate had a relationship, the release said.
“The investigative work of the Detention Center Command Staff and Professional Standards Division brought this to a quick resolution,” the release said.
Farmer was hired in March 2013. She was a classification sergeant. Farmer was fired Monday and arrested today (May 14) at the sheriff’s office.
“I hold all of our staff to a high standard of conduct and professionalism, and I will not tolerate any behavior that goes against the oath they took to uphold the law,” said Rogers. “We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for both our staff and inmates, which is why we are proactively implementing upgrades to our facility through a legislative grant, including a full-body scanner and an enhanced surveillance system. These measures will bolster our ability to prevent and detect illicit activities within the detention center, further ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone under our care.”
