By Teresa Stepzinski
The Florida Times-Union
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrested one of its corrections officers Sunday morning on charges of smuggling methamphetamine and marijuana into the Duval County jail.
Hunter A. Jean, 24, resigned when taken into custody. He is charged with single counts each of delivery of methamphetamine, delivery of marijuana, and introduction of contraband into a detention facility — all felonies, Undersheriff Pat Ivey said.
Jean was jailed without bail, Sheriff’s Office inmate records showed.
He had worked almost four years as a corrections officer assigned to the jail, Ivey said.
Ivey said Jean’s arrest resulted from information the Sheriff’s Office received on Oct. 20. The tip stated that somebody possibly was bringing contraband into the jail, he said.
The ongoing investigation resulted in Jean being arrested early Sunday by Sheriff’s Office detectives with the Integrity and Special Investigations Unit, he said.
“It’s looking more like he [Jean] was paid to get this, not that he was actually selling like he was the dealer,” said Ivey, adding the investigation indicates that someone paid for the drugs to be smuggled into the jail.
He didn’t identify any other possible suspects in the case because the investigation continues.
“There actually was a delivery of that contraband this morning.[Sunday] We have recovered marijuana cigarettes and methamphetamine from that investigation,” Ivey said.
Ivey said Jean was interviewed and “gave some specifics in reference to what was alleged against him.”
“He was arrested and has resigned his position with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office,” said Ivey, noting detectives intercepted the small package of drugs when they confronted Jean.
Ivey said Jean is the 10th arrest of a Sheriff’s Office employee this year. Those arrests included four corrections officers, four police officers and two civilians, he said.
“I would suspect this is not the first time,” Ivey replied when the Times-Union asked how long Jean is suspected of bringing contraband into the jail.
Ivey said the drugs were carried in via a small package, but he didn’t have the exact weights of the marijuana and methamphetamine.
“The actual delivery occurred, then it was immediately seized after delivery and he [Jean] was taken into custody,” Ivey said.
None of the drugs from Sunday’s delivery are in the hands of any inmates currently. It’s hard to tell — until more investigation is done — how much drugs might have made it into the hands of inmates previously, he said.
Ivey said inmates will be questioned as part of the investigation to determine how long the smuggling had been happening..
“At this time we have no indication other people were involved but if they are, we will figure it out and they will meet the same fate,” Ivey said.
Jean was scheduled for a probable cause hearing at 1 p.m. Sunday at the jail, inmate records show.
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