Internal Investigation Leads to Arrest of Jailer and 5 Others for Smuggling Contraband into Jail

Brown County Sheriff’s Office released the following statement involving smuggling of prohibited substances into the Brown County Jail which led to the arrest of six people including one jailer on Tuesday morning.

BCSO provided the following release regarding the case:

According to Sheriff Bobby Grubbs, on Tuesday, February 5, 2014, criminal investigators with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office conducted an internal investigation involving contraband and prohibited substances getting into the Brown County Jail. Deputies had become aware that tobacco and other prohibited substances were being smuggled into the jail by Barry Daniell and Shanna Hughitt to a jailer, who delivered the substances to orchestrating inmates Justin Daniell, Kevin Sliger and Stacy Darnell. After about 2 weeks of investigative work, Brown County sheriff’s Officers arrested a total of six people who were charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – Prohibited Substances and Items in a Correctional Facility.

The following were arrested:

Justin Daniell, 32-year-old white male
Kevin Sliger, 34-year-old white male
Stacy Darnell, 41-year-old white male
Barry Daniell, 64-year-old white male
Shanna Hughitt, 33-year-old white female

Also charged was Michael Howard, a 32-year-old white male, a jailer who was a probationary employee of the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies established surveillances, debriefed suspects and inmates, and utilized technology to establish the cases against the six defendants.

Sheriff Grubbs released the following statement concerning the case:

“The Brown County Sheriff’s Office is comprised of exceptional jailers, officers and support people. They work hard to serve the public in an honorable way with low pay and often difficult circumstances. When we learned of this activity, our employees worked hard to strengthen the security of the jail and eliminate the problem once it came to our attention. We take seriously our responsibility to investigate criminal activity, regardless of who or where it is. I am especially proud of our jail staff and officers who worked tirelessly to bring this to a successful conclusion.”

The investigation was led by CID Detective James Stroope.

Pictured above is Michael Howard. Pictured below are the other arrestees involved.

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