Mississippi Attorney Arrested for Allegedly Smuggling Cell Phones, Contraband Into Jail

A man in handcuffs, in this file photo. Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images

A Mississippi attorney was arrested on Aug. 8 and charged with allegedly trying to smuggle cell phones and other contraband into a correctional facility, according to the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office.

Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones said that attorney Daniel Sidney Dale allegedly pretended to be legal counsel for some county detainees when entering the Raymond Detention Center during visitations.

Photos shared by the sheriff showed a briefcase containing several items of contraband, including two cellphones and chargers, tobacco, and suspected marijuana, which Dale allegedly tried to pass to an inmate.

Dale was charged with two counts of conspiracy and three counts of introduction of contraband to a correctional facility. Jones said the investigation is still ongoing and there may be more arrests.

“Attorney Dale, in a trusted position responsible for the constitutional rights of arrested suspects, jeopardized the safety and integrity of the Hinds County Detention Facilities and the public,” he said in a statement.

Jones told a press conference that the investigation started on Aug. 7 after a surveillance camera caught Dale exchanging “a cell phone and a brown envelope” with an inmate during his visit on Aug. 5.

A cell phone and other contraband were later discovered in the detainee’s cell during a search. Dale returned to the correctional facility on Aug. 9 claiming that he needed to see a client.

“He had a silver briefcase and during his entrance, one of our machines detected what appeared to be contraband inside of the briefcase,” Jones told reporters.

Surveillance footage showed Dale attempting to exchange the items in the briefcase with another inmate during the visit, according to the sheriff. He was detained, questioned, and charged.

Jones said the investigation revealed Dale had visited the correctional facility 10 times since June. The County Sheriff’s Office will look into those visits to determine who he visited and if any exchanges occurred.

The sheriff noted that his office has consulted with the Hinds County District Attorney regarding Dale’s charges and will look forward to presenting the case to a grand jury “for a possible indictment.”

It is not known if Dale has a legal representative at this time. Jones said this arrest showed that local authorities will not tolerate such crimes and will take action regardless of the person’s status.

“It will not be tolerated and no matter who you are, what position you hold, if you attempt to introduce contraband into our facility or one of the facilities, you will be arrested, you will be charged and you will be held accountable,” the sheriff said.