Brittney Branham, 28, a Western Regional Jail Corrections Officer from Louisa, Ky. was jailed at 8:53 P.M. at the correction center on Wednesday after contraband was found inside a jail cell that she was allegedly seen entering even though it was outside her assigned area.
The items found inside the cell included two syringes, a crack pipe, two packs of loose tobacco, rolling papers, lighters, and an open pack of Marlboro cigarettes, several ink pens, rubber glove finger’s believed to have been used to conceal contraband and fingernail clippers.
“West Virginia’s regional jail system continues to enforce a zero tolerance stance regarding contraband, and such cases will be prosecuted to the full list extent possible,” a source close to the case, said.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Cabell County magistrate court, Branham originally denied taking the items into the jail when she was confronted by administrators. However, during an interview with state police she admitted to being responsible for the cigarettes and ink pens found.
Branham also admitted to being an acquaintance of Jeremy Ludwig, 21, an inmate from the cell before his incarceration. Ludwig is currently jailed on a 2016 Putnam County charge alleging armed robbery.
It is alleged that the accused entered the cell for approximately 12 seconds before emerging and reporting for roll-call. After Branham exited the cell, the inmate left the cell and appeared to place items into a neighboring cell. After the surveillance was watched, correction officers responded to the area and found contraband in the cell where the inmates were seen after Branham left.
Branham was jailed at the Western regional jail Tuesday on a $25,000 bond.
