MISSISSIPPI ATTORNEY ARRESTED FOR SNEAKING CONTRABAND INTO HINDS COUNTY JAIL (WORST MUGSHOT EVER)

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - A Jackson area attorney has been charged with bringing contraband into the Hinds County Detention Center.

Sheriff Tyree Jones said attorney Daniel Dale was detained, questioned, and arrested Thursday at the Raymond facility after he was found with a briefcase filled with cell phones, tobacco, a substance believed to be marijuana, and other banned items.

“No matter who you are or what position you hold, if you attempt to introduce contraband into one of our facilities, you will be arrested, you will be charged, and you will be held accountable,” Jones said.

Dale is being charged with two counts of conspiracy and three counts of introducing contraband into the facility.

Jones says the investigation continues and that more charges and arrests could be made.

The sheriff says the investigation was launched on August 5, after surveillance showed Dale giving a cell phone and brown envelope to a detainee.

He said a search was conducted, and a cell phone and other contraband items were found on that individual.

“We believe that the cell phone and possibly the contraband recovered may be linked to the visitation that occurred,” he said.

Jones told reporters Dale returned to the detention center on Thursday where he again needed to see a client, carrying a silver briefcase.

“During his entrance, one of our machines detected what appeared to be contraband inside the briefcase,” he said. “Video footage later showed attorney Dale attempting to make an exchange for the items in the briefcase with another detainee during the visitation.”

“Of course, the briefcase was subject to be searched due to it being on the property of a correctional facility, and during the search... we were able to recover cell phones... suspected marijuana, tobacco, along with cell phone chargers, a scale, and other electronic equipment,” the sheriff said.

Jones says Dale visited Raymond at least 10 times since June, and deputies are looking into those visitations as well.

The sheriff was unsure if Jones represented the detainees he interacted with. He said that as an attorney, Dale had a “trusted position” and had access to detainees being held there.

“This just goes to show the challenges we face in detention services with contraband,” he said. “But it also shows an impact that we were able to catch this individual and make an arrest.”

Jones says he has consulted with the Hinds County District Attorney, and is looking forward to taking a case to a grand jury.