A Polk County Sheriff’s Office employee is facing serious charges after he allegedly brought illegal items into the Polk County Jail for inmates in exchange for money.
According to Polk County Sheriff Johnny Moats, 39-year-old Whitney Ryan Ashmore of a West Fairmount Avenue address in Cedartown was found in possession of marijuana, rolling paper, packs of tobacco, and a can of dip behind the guard line at the jail.
The discovery of the illegal items was the result of a quick investigation by Moats and Chief Jailer Al Sharp.
Moats said that after a number of illegal items were found inside the jail weeks ago, several inmates indicated that Ashmore had provided them the items in exchange for transfer of funds using their green dot cards.
“We started an investigation with our drug task force and we came to find out that it was true,” said Sheriff Moats. “We had been told by one of the inmates that he was going to be bringing some contraband in.”
Ashmore was arrested on Friday, July 17 on charges of felony crossing the guard line with drugs, felony giving drugs or other items to inmates, felony violation of oath by public officer, felony trading with inmates, and misdemeanor drugs to be kept in original container.
He remains at the Polk County Jail pending a bond hearing in Polk Superior Court.