(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a former Detention Deputy today on charges after an internal investigation.
34 year old Sara Joyce Powell of Westminster was charged today with one count each of Misconduct in Office and Furnishing Contraband into a Detention Facility. Powell was arrested and booked into the Oconee County Detention Center at around 6:18pm today. At this time, Powell remains in jail pending a bond hearing.
The Sheriff’s Office began an investigation around two weeks ago after first receiving information that Powell was furnishing contraband into the Detention Center, which is against state law and Sheriff’s Office policy.
Based upon evidence that was obtained during the investigation, it was determined that Powell has been distributing contraband to inmates inside the jail between August of 2024 and January of this year. The investigation was led and conducted by the Captain of the Special Operations Bureau, Ken Washington.
Powell, who was hired as a Detention Deputy on August 15th, 2022, was terminated today by the Sheriff’s Office before her arrest.
“Employees of the Sheriff’s Office are held to high standards of professionalism, accountability and trust in the performance of their duties,” says Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw. “Due to the nature of the complaint, and with potential contraband being brought into the Detention Center, we conducted the investigation to immediately address this matter. Upon obtaining the evidence in this case, Powell was terminated and placed under arrest.”
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation. Sheriff Crenshaw says that due to the ongoing investigation, nothing specific about the items of contraband that were distributed, nor the number of inmates involved, can be released at this time except during legal proceedings in court.