News (Media Awareness Project) - US MS: Bail Bondsman Accused Of Passing Drugs To Inmate |
| Title: | US MS: Bail Bondsman Accused Of Passing Drugs To Inmate |
| Published On: | 2003-01-24 |
| Source: | Star-Herald, The (MS) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-21 13:50:10 |
BAIL BONDSMAN ACCUSED OF PASSING DRUGS TO INMATE
An Ethel bail bondsman is facing a felony charge after being accused of
trying to pass marijuana to an inmate at the Attala County Jail last week.
Danny Steen, 50, insists he was set up.
"I was at the courthouse, and I was given a pack of cigarettes ... he asked
me if I would give them to someone down there," Steen said. "I'm a victim
in this thing."
Steen said he tried to bring charges against the 21-year-old man who gave
him the cigarettes.
He would not identify the man or the inmate for whom the marijuana was
intended. Steen said he has retained an attorney.
Jailer Peggy Ramage noticed that the cigarette pack had been tampered with,
so she called Sheriff William Lee. The drug was found inside the pack.
Steen is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to
deliver in a jail facility, which is a felony punishable by three to seven
years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines.
"All jails and prisons are faced with this from time to time," Lee said,
adding that it's happened "a couple of times" at the Attala County Jail.
"That's the reason for hiring personnel sharp enough to catch things like
that."
Lee wouldn't say what kind of drug was found, but Steen said that it was a
marijuana cigarette.
"I had no knowledge that it was in there," he said. "It was a setup from
the word go."
He said it's not uncommon for clients and former clients to try to set up
bail bondsmen.
"They'd like nothing more than to get you in (jail) with them," he said.
"You're dealing with a bunch of low-lifes with nothing to lose."
Steen, who has been a licensed bail bondsman for two years, said he is not
upset with Lee, the sheriff's department or the Mississippi Bureau of
Narcotics.
"They have a job to do," he said.
Steen, whose initial hearing was to be Wednesday, said he is looking
forward to court. He was out on $10,000 bond. He was not allowed to write
his own bond.
"There are an awful lot of circumstances that will come out in court," he
said. "I've got to defend my honor."
An Ethel bail bondsman is facing a felony charge after being accused of
trying to pass marijuana to an inmate at the Attala County Jail last week.
Danny Steen, 50, insists he was set up.
"I was at the courthouse, and I was given a pack of cigarettes ... he asked
me if I would give them to someone down there," Steen said. "I'm a victim
in this thing."
Steen said he tried to bring charges against the 21-year-old man who gave
him the cigarettes.
He would not identify the man or the inmate for whom the marijuana was
intended. Steen said he has retained an attorney.
Jailer Peggy Ramage noticed that the cigarette pack had been tampered with,
so she called Sheriff William Lee. The drug was found inside the pack.
Steen is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to
deliver in a jail facility, which is a felony punishable by three to seven
years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines.
"All jails and prisons are faced with this from time to time," Lee said,
adding that it's happened "a couple of times" at the Attala County Jail.
"That's the reason for hiring personnel sharp enough to catch things like
that."
Lee wouldn't say what kind of drug was found, but Steen said that it was a
marijuana cigarette.
"I had no knowledge that it was in there," he said. "It was a setup from
the word go."
He said it's not uncommon for clients and former clients to try to set up
bail bondsmen.
"They'd like nothing more than to get you in (jail) with them," he said.
"You're dealing with a bunch of low-lifes with nothing to lose."
Steen, who has been a licensed bail bondsman for two years, said he is not
upset with Lee, the sheriff's department or the Mississippi Bureau of
Narcotics.
"They have a job to do," he said.
Steen, whose initial hearing was to be Wednesday, said he is looking
forward to court. He was out on $10,000 bond. He was not allowed to write
his own bond.
"There are an awful lot of circumstances that will come out in court," he
said. "I've got to defend my honor."
Member Comments |
No member comments available...
