INMATE TELLS RADIO STATION 'JAILER' SUPPLIED MARIJUANA

Sheriff Says Man Who Faces Charges in Alleged Sexual Encounters in Jail May
Want Deal to Give up Information to Authorities

Thursday morning, there was a new and interesting twist in the Person
County Jail saga.

A Person County Jail inmate telephoned an area radio station and made an
on-air allegation.

Inmate Donald Douglas Reaves, 28, told on-air personalities at radio
station G-105 the marijuana that played a role in the sex episodes in the
Person County jail almost two weeks ago had been purchased by inmates from
"a jailer."

Ever since those sex episodes were revealed by jail and Person County
Sheriff's Department officials, all have said that marijuana was involved
in the situation. Jail Administrator A. K. Pruitt maintained that marijuana
was used by male inmates as barter to obtain sexual favors from female inmates.

However, at the time the jail incident was revealed, Pruitt said that he
did not have hard evidence as to how the marijuana got into the jail but
that an investigation into that aspect was continuing.

Friday, Person County Sheriff Dennis Oakley indicated that the
investigation remains on-going by Pruitt and Capt. Calvin Clayton of the
sheriff's department's investigations division.

"It's taking some time because a lot of people are being interviewed,"
Oakley said.

Oakley also said that there is no evidence to date to implicate any jail
employee, as inmate Reaves alleged. However, Oakley said that activities of
detention officers are being examined in the course of the investigation.

"I'm not going to say there wasn't some officer error or officer laxity in
this," Oakley said.

Oakley was asked how dependable information coming from inmate Reaves might be.

"He was a participant (in the jail sex activity). He should know a lot,"
said Oakley.

And, Oakley added, those investigating the jail situation are interested in
knowing what Reaves really does know. Oakley said that investigators have
instructed Reaves to "write a statement, naming names and being specific."
However, Oakley also said that Reaves has hinted at bargaining with
officers in exchange for whatever information he might have.

"He has teased us with that (information)," said Oakley.

Oakley also addressed the fact that an inmate was able to make a telephone
call from the jail to a radio station. "Everybody's not allowed to make
phone calls," said Oakley. "That's a privilege. That's a privilege that's
for good behavior.

"That phone system is for inmates to contact their families when they need
to. We've got a system in that's called 'PayTel.' We had it when we were in
the old jail. We turn the phones on at like nine o'clock in the morning and
we cut them off at 10 o'clock at night. Certain numbers are blocked out.
These are collect calls (placed by the inmates). There is a fee per minute."

However, Oakley said, Reaves had to make a couple of connections in order
to talk on-air with G-105 radio personalities. Oakley said that Reaves
"called his girlfriend and she, in turn, called G-105. It was a three-way
call," Oakley continued. "I don't want him or anybody else telling stuff on
the radio that might interfere with the investigation."

Reaves is in the Person County Jail to serve a sentence given to him for
two court convictions. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail, followed by a
period of probation, after being convicted of misdemeanor breaking and
entering and larceny. Reaves began serving the active portion of his
sentence on Aug. 12.

In connection with the sexual encounters among male and female inmates in
the Person County Jail, Reaves has been charged with soliciting for
prostitution and attempted breaking and entering.