A correctional
officer at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City has been charged with
trafficking with an offender, after the Department of Correction (DOC) said
he attempted to bring a cellphone into the facility.
According to DOC,
at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29, Correctional Officer James Caffey, 27, of Gary,
failed to clear a metal detector or the cell sense machine at the facility’s
entrance. On further investigation, Caffey was found to be in possession of
a rectangle wrapped in silver tape, DOC said. “It was found that the package
contained a cellphone.”
Caffey was booked
into the LaPorte County Jail on a charge of trafficking with an offender
with the object being a cellular device, a Level 5 felony punishable by a
term of one to six years.
Caffey began his
employment with DOC on Sept. 11, 2017.
“The vast majority
of the correctional staff are dedicated to performing their duties in a safe
and professional manner,” Warden Ron Neal said. “However, when one fails, we
will hold them accountable. We will continue to aggressively pursue these
individuals who choose to compromise the integrity of our profession.”