Prison guard at Parchman arrested; contraband seized
JACKSON, MS (AP) - A corrections officer at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman has been arrested after seven large bags of contraband, including tobacco, cell phones and suspected alcohol, were found in a state vehicle.
The state Department of Corrections said in a news release that 52-year-old Christopher Richardson, of Clarksdale, a 22-year employee, was arrested Monday. He's being held on $75,000 bond. It was unknown if he has an attorney who could comment on the case.
Officials say Richardson was on duty and had picked up six garbage bags and one paper sack from a property next to the prison. Investigators stopped him around 1:40 a.m. as he returned to the prison.
Investigators were acting on a tip received hours earlier and intercepted Richardson at the front gate.
More arrests are expected.
