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Tenn. inmate allegedly breaks own arm to get early release

Joey Phillip Phelps, 37, claimed inmates threatened him and later broke his arm during a struggle

phelps-1.jpg

Pictured is Joey Phillip Phelps.

Photo/Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office

By Corrections1 Staff

DEKALB, CO., Tenn. — An inmate at a Tennessee county jail is accused of breaking his own arm in an attempt to get an early release.

WKRN reports that Dekalb County inmate Joey Phillip Phelps, 37, told a detective and a CO that several other inmates threatened him and later broke his arm during a struggle. Phelps was transported to a hospital for treatment.

The detective soon learned that Phelps fabricated the entire story. Phelps, who was serving 100 days for a child support violation, admitted that he purposely broke his arm in hopes of getting out of jail early.

He is expected to appear in court on Nov. 9.