Turner

THOMASVILLE — Authorities stopped a wife from bringing her incarcerated husband an early Christmas gift. The gift was contraband items. 

A Thomas County/Thomasville Narcotics/Vice Division agent intercepted communication with Ashley Law and her inmate husband, Rusty Law, on Tuesday. 

According to Narcotics/Vice Division Commander Louis Schofill, the communication between the two was Law instructing his wife to purchase various items, such as lighters, magnets, cigarette tobacco and hacksaw blades. 

“He told her to go get this stuff, and he would follow up with her for future directions on who she was to give it to,” Schofill said. 

Upon learning the intel, a narcotics agent was able to watch Ashley Law going to various stores and purchasing the requested items. The agent followed up with the stores and confirmed Law purchased the items, Schofill said. 

“At that time, a decision was made to not let the items get into the jail,” Schofill added. “Although we wanted to make that connection and find out, we felt that the safety of the inmates and jail personnel was more important.”  

Additionally, it was found that Rusty Law and five other inmates were gathered around a window on the second floor, according to Schofill.

“It appeared that they were doing something questionable around this window,” Schofill said. 

Jail personnel found the particular window was damaged from the inmates trying to cut a hole with a piece of metal recovered from a toilet. 

“At that time, inmates were interviewed, and they acknowledged that they were trying to cut a hole in the window, in order to, hopefully, get contraband into the jail to sell for profit,” Schofill said. 

Along with inmate interviews, agents also questioned Ashley Law, and she confirmed she bought the contraband and the items were at her residence. 

Ashley Law was arrested and charged with conspiracy to bring prohibited items across guard line. 

Rusty Law was also charged with conspiracy to bring prohibited items across guard line, along with damage to government property. 

The inmates — Tyre Rahem Turner, Brandon Scott Butts, Barrington Mickens Jr., Jessie Paul Rice, and Joseph Henry McGuire — were all charged with damage to government property. 

 

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.