By Dan Copp
The Houma Courier
THIBODAUX, La. — A Lafourche Parish correctional officer is out of a job after being accused of taking part in a bribery scheme at the jail, authorities said.
Former correctional officer Woody Shamblin Jr., 22, of Houma, has been charged with public bribery, authorities said.
Jail inmate Keenon Smith, 30, and a 34-year-old Houma woman were also charged in connection with the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Investigators learned the woman had paid Shamblin to smuggle food items to Smith at the jail on three separate occasions, authorities said. For security purposes, unapproved items brought into jails are considered contraband.
Following an investigation, arrest warrants were obtained for each of the three suspects.
Shamblin and the woman turned themselves in last week and were booked into the Lafourche Parish jail. Both were released after posting bail.
Smith, who is serving 10 years after being convicted for aggravated assault with a firearm, was additionally charged with bribery Thursday.
According to court records, Smith pleaded guilty to the aggravated assault with a firearm charge on Oct. 12, 2016, in Terrebonne Parish. His conviction resulted from a shooting in Houma in 2015.
Shamblin, who was fired after his arrest, had served with the Sheriff’s Office for about 17 weeks.
Lafourche Sheriff Craig Webre expressed disappointment over Shamblin’s arrest.
“I am beyond disappointed with the actions of this former correctional officer,” he said. “The men and women of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office are held to the highest standards, and we will continue to hold our employees accountable anytime we discover wrongdoing.”
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