A Rowan County detention officer now finds himself on the wrong side of the law after an internal investigation concluded he allegedly smuggled tobacco and other contraband into the county jail. Former detention officer Douglas Moore Jr. has been charged with felony providing tobacco to an inmate and felony conspiracy. Inmate Jacob Seth Jennelle, who was already in custody on a separate 2024 attempted first-degree murder charge, was also charged in the alleged scheme.
According to the Rowan County Sheriff's Office, detectives with the Vice and Narcotics Unit opened the probe after reports surfaced that narcotics and tobacco were making their way into the detention facility. The sheriff's office said the inquiry is ongoing and stressed that employees who break the law or violate the public trust will be held accountable.
Charges and evidence
Investigators determined that Moore conspired with inmate Jennelle to bring tobacco products into the detention center and found evidence of narcotics and tobacco inside the facility, according to WSOC-TV. Moore was arrested at the jail, given a $5,000 secured bond, and moved to the Cabarrus County Detention Center. Jennelle was charged with misdemeanor possession of tobacco in a detention center and felony conspiracy and was issued a $50,000 secured bond.
A pattern at the detention center
The case comes on the heels of earlier contraband investigations at the Rowan County Detention Center, including an April 2025 smuggling attempt that turned up Suboxone strips and tobacco and led to multiple arrests and the firing of a jail-contracted employee, as reported by WBTV. Local coverage in recent years has highlighted repeated probes into similar incidents, underscoring how difficult it is to keep drugs, tobacco, and other contraband out of the jail.
What officials say and next steps
Sheriff Travis Allen reiterated that the office "remains firmly committed to holding our detention officers to the highest professional and ethical standards," the Salisbury Post reported. The sheriff's office said the investigation is still active and that additional charges could follow as detectives continue to chase down leads.
