LITTLE
By Josh Mitchell
Corinth Today
A man who worked as a corrections officer at the Alcorn County Jail was arrested after a search of his vehicle turned up drugs and other items that authorities believe were intended to be delivered to inmates.
Ethan Wayne Little is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to commit the introduction of contraband into a correctional facility— all felonies.
Alcorn County Sheriff Ben Caldwell said officials had received information that some employees were possibly bringing contraband into the county jail.
Little was identified as part of that investigation, and investigators met him Saturday at the jail. Little gave authorities the consent to search his vehicle, Caldwell said. However, the sheriff said consent was not required since there is a policy that says any vehicle on the premises can be searched for contraband.
There were several packages of contraband in the vehicle, including 1 gram of meth, about 1 gram of cocaine and an amount of marijuana, tobacco and alcohol as well as a cellphone, the sheriff said.
“It was packaged to be taken to the jail and dropped off to inmates,” Caldwell said.
The sheriff’s office is “constantly battling” contraband entering the jail, Caldwell noted.
“I strive to keep it out, but it’s just impossible to keep all of it out,” he added. “We’re constantly finding contraband. We do jail checks every day.”
Little had been working at the jail for about two months. The idea that an employee would bring contraband to inmates upsets Caldwell.
The sheriff said he has made it clear to employees that he will not tolerate this behavior.
“It goes against everything we stand for,” Caldwell asserted. “From the top to the bottom, if I catch any of my employees bringing in contraband, we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”
Little’s bond was set at $25,000, and he was still in jail Monday afternoon. The investigation is ongoing, Caldwell said.
“If there’s anybody else involved, we will prosecute them as well,” the sheriff said.
Finding contraband is a priority for Caldwell and his staff, he said, adding, “Working together is what led us to make this arrest.”