In a turn of events at the Clayton County Jail, Security Specialist Laporsha Williams has been taken into custody on charges of smuggling contraband to an inmate. Williams, who had been employed at the jail for just three months, now faces multiple felony charges: criminal attempt to commit a felony, crossing guard lines with prohibited items, and giving an inmate a telecommunications device, Fox 5 Atlanta reports.
Atlanta News First described the scene where, during the early morning roll call, 38-year-old Williams was handcuffed in front of her colleagues. The arrest warrant specifies the charge of criminal attempt to commit a felony. Details emerged that on the preceding Tuesday, Williams allegedly concealed a cell phone charger in a cereal box and disposed of it in a trash can, an area outside her assigned jurisdiction, raising suspicion among the jail staff. Major Michael Johnson, Jail Administrator, commented on the incident, "If you make a decision to do criminal activity in our jail, you will see the same fate."
The investigation into the incident revealed that Williams purportedly communicated with an inmate, Rodricus Martin, through the jail phone system and agreed to provide him with the smuggled items. Following the arrest of Williams, a thorough search of Martin's cell block led to the discovery of an iPhone, resulting in Martin's re-arrest. According to Atlanta News First, Johnson told the inmate, "Specialist Williams is now an inmate here at the Clayton County Jail because of you."
Changes have been forecasted under Johnson's direction, who assumed the role of jail administrator one month prior to the incident. He has expressed his commitment to prison reform, stating, “We are making sure that we’re taking care and custody of all of our inmates and taking care of all of our employees as well, and today, we effected a little more change,” as noted by Atlanta News First.
