(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------A former Oconee County Detention Deputy was arrested this morning on two charges related to providing Inmates at the Oconee County Detention Center with contraband.
19 year old Tyler Christian Watson, of Central, SC, was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center around 10:02am on charges of Misconduct in Office and Furnishing Contraband into a Detention Facility. Watson turned himself in, this morning, at the Law Enforcement Center in Walhalla.
At this time, Watson remains in jail pending a bond hearing.
Watson was hired by the Sheriff’s Office, as a Detention Deputy, on February 13th, 2023. Watson resigned his job on September 8th of this year.
On August 28th, the Sheriff’s Office began an inquiry into reports that contraband was being brought into the Detention Center and given to inmates. The inquiry was conducted by a Narcotics Agents assigned to the Special Operations Bureau.
During the course of the inquiry, the Sheriff’s Office obtained evidence that Watson provided inmates with contraband between May 1st and August 19th of this year while he was employed as a Detention Deputy working inside the Oconee County Detention Center.
“The Sheriff’s Office conducted this inquiry, and additional investigation, in house. I did not request an outside investigation by another law enforcement agency due to the fact that our Narcotics Agent obtained enough evidence, including evidence from Mr. Watson himself, which rose to the level of probable cause that did not necessitate an outside investigation,” says Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw. “I will continue to uphold our employees to the highest standards of accountability, and should evidence arise of criminal activity by an employee of the Sheriff’s Office, I will take the necessary steps to make sure that those standards of accountability are met by all of our employees.”
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation. Due to the future adjudication of the investigation in a court of law, the Sheriff’s Office will not release any information regarding any evidence obtained during the course of the investigation.