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A Facebook posting by a prisoner at the Lincoln County jail prompted deputies to launch an investigation and conduct a jail shakedown that led to the arrest of a now former jailer who is accused of providing cell phones to two female prisoners.
Lincoln County Sheriff Charlie Dougherty said Ryan Lee Harkins, 25, Chandler, was arrested in that case on two complaints of bringing contraband into a penal institution. The case, although still under investigation, has been turned over to the district attorney’s office for consideration of felony charges.
Dougherty said Harkins, who resigned as a jailer prior to his arrest, became the focus of an investigation when another employee noticed that “one of the female inmates updated her Facebook page from jail,” the sheriff said, with some of the messages asking someone to bail her out.
As a result, Dougherty said they had a shakedown at the jail that resulted in two of the pay-as-you-go cell phones located. At that point, he said deputies knew the devices had to have been brought in by another inmate or an employee.
The sheriff asked for a third-party internal investigation by the district attorney’s task force investigators.
All female prisoners were interviewed, the sheriff said, which led authorities to look further at Harkins. As all of these events were unfolding, Dougherty said Harkins had found another job and resigned as a jailer before he was arrested at his home in this case.
Dougherty said two females inmates, both housed on drug trafficking charges, were the two who had use of the phones, with investigators also looking at those who allegedly fronted the cost of the phones. Those involved also could face conspiracy charges, Dougherty said.
Because he had worked as jailer in Lincoln County, Harkins was jailed at the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center following his arrest, but he has since been released after posting a $3,000 bond, the sheriff said.
Dougherty said authorities have both phones and are analyzing them for any other usage behind bars. Dougherty, surprised by the case, said Harkins had been a good employee and had worked at the jail since August.
The sheriff also said Harkins had no reason to have contact with any of the female prisoners as there is a female jailer working on every shift.
Watch for any updates.
A Facebook posting by a prisoner at the Lincoln County jail prompted deputies to launch an investigation and conduct a jail shakedown that led to the arrest of a now former jailer who is accused of providing cell phones to two female prisoners.
Lincoln County Sheriff Charlie Dougherty said Ryan Lee Harkins, 25, Chandler, was arrested in that case on two complaints of bringing contraband into a penal institution. The case, although still under investigation, has been turned over to the district attorney’s office for consideration of felony charges.
Dougherty said Harkins, who resigned as a jailer prior to his arrest, became the focus of an investigation when another employee noticed that “one of the female inmates updated her Facebook page from jail,” the sheriff said, with some of the messages asking someone to bail her out.
As a result, Dougherty said they had a shakedown at the jail that resulted in two of the pay-as-you-go cell phones located. At that point, he said deputies knew the devices had to have been brought in by another inmate or an employee.
The sheriff asked for a third-party internal investigation by the district attorney’s task force investigators.
All female prisoners were interviewed, the sheriff said, which led authorities to look further at Harkins. As all of these events were unfolding, Dougherty said Harkins had found another job and resigned as a jailer before he was arrested at his home in this case.
Dougherty said two females inmates, both housed on drug trafficking charges, were the two who had use of the phones, with investigators also looking at those who allegedly fronted the cost of the phones. Those involved also could face conspiracy charges, Dougherty said.
Because he had worked as jailer in Lincoln County, Harkins was jailed at the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center following his arrest, but he has since been released after posting a $3,000 bond, the sheriff said.
Dougherty said authorities have both phones and are analyzing them for any other usage behind bars. Dougherty, surprised by the case, said Harkins had been a good employee and had worked at the jail since August.
The sheriff also said Harkins had no reason to have contact with any of the female prisoners as there is a female jailer working on every shift.
Watch for any updates.
