STODDARD CO. JAILER ACCUSED OF PROVIDING DRUGS TO INMATES

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- After guarding Stoddard County's inmates for about
six months, an Essex, Mo., man now finds himself sitting behind those
same bars.

Randal Jason Vandiver, 20, was charged last week with sexual contact
with an inmate and distribution of a controlled substance by Stoddard
County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn. His bond was set at
$50,000 cash.

Vandiver appeared Thursday before Associate Circuit Judge Joe
Satterfield for arraignment. Satterfield ordered Vandiver to appear at
9 a.m. Thursday with his attorney.

The complaint on file alleges that Vandiver had sex with a female
inmate and distributed Xanax on Aug. 10.

According to Stoddard County chief deputy Rick Cook's probable-cause
affidavit, Vandiver also brought cigarettes to a male inmate and was
given a $100 check each time. Cook's affidavit further says Vandiver
admitted to getting into a locked jail narcotics locker and stealing
and distributing narcotics to the same inmate and was paid $50 to $100
per incident.

The affidavit also said Vandiver arranged some meetings between male
and female inmates.

The charges stem from a tip from an inmate, said Stoddard County
Sheriff Steve Fish. Vandiver was the only jailer on duty at the time
the alleged incidents occurred, he said.

Vandiver was "suspended as soon as allegation came about," Fish said.
"Then, after the investigation and charges were filed, I fired him."

He is being held "down there with the rest of the inmates," Fish said.
"I'm overfull now. I don't have the facilities to segregate him."