ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. -- A Rowan County Detention Center officer is in jail after being charged with sneaking contraband, including drugs, into the facility.

  • Officials say Raymond Moore brought contraband into the facility.
  • They received information that inmates were receiving marijuana and other items.
  • Moore started working there in February. 

The detention officer was hired just a few months ago, after the sheriff’s office received information from the SBI that inmates were receiving marijuana and other items from the outside. Deputies say they quickly began investigating the situation.

32-year-old Raymond Moore began working at the Rowan County Detention Center in February.

After the SBI told them in June of inmates receiving things like marijuana, cigarettes and lighters from the outside, deputies say they began investigating, using security footage and speaking with inmates.

Chief Deputy David Ramsey says through the investigation they discovered, on at least five different occasions, Moore brought marijuana to at least two inmates in the jail for a profit. After executing a search warrant, they found more evidence of the operation in his home and car.

Unfortunately, even though Moore passed an extensive background check and had a military background, Chief Ramsey says things like this still can happen in the jail system.

“It’s not unusual for contraband to be brought in. We see a lot of it at the state and federal level trying to smuggle in cell phones but you know if it’s that what’s to say it won’t be a gun next? It just really gets to be a problem,” said Ramsey.

Chief Ramsey says the officer has been terminated and charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana, conspiracy to deliver marijuana and multiple other drug charges.

The case is still under investigation and Ramsey says more charges could follow for the inmates involved.

 

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