Versailles, IN—On September 11, 2019, Darin S. Laird, of Versailles, IN, was sentenced by Ripley County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Sharp to 2 years in jail for trafficking contraband into the Ripley County Jail while working as a jail officer. Laird trafficked contraband on at least two different occasions between February 16, 2019, and March 9, 2019. Prior to sentencing, Laird plead guilty to Official Misconduct, a Level 6 Felony and Trafficking with an Inmate, a Class A Misdemeanor where he faced a maximum sentence of two and a half years.
During the hearing, Laird was questioned about the details of his crimes. Laird explained that he was contacted by an inmate’s girlfriend, that he had known previously, to traffic contraband into the jail on her behalf to the inmate. Laird and the girlfriend would meet at a gas station in Versailles where the contraband would then be given to Laird prior to the start of his shift. Laird would then conceal the contraband in a glove and carry the item into the jail unbeknownst to any other jail staff. Laird would then have a short conversation with the inmate in his jail cell where he would give the contraband to the inmate in a manner to avoid detection. While working as a jail officer, Laird would have direct access to the inmates. Laird explained the contraband as tightly folded up pieces of paper with tape around them but admitted he didn’t know what was inside them. While the trafficking was occurring, Laird admitted he was receiving nude pictures of the girlfriend but denied he was receiving them in exchange for trafficking the contraband into the jail.
At the Sentencing Hearing, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Shane A. Tucker argued that Laird’s dangerous actions not only put other jail officer’s at risk, but also the other inmates and the public at large. Further, Tucker urged the Court that the multiple times this had occurred and the well thought out plan Laird initiated to traffic the contraband justified an aggravated sentence. Laird’s attorney requested that the Court take into consideration that Laird had no additional criminal history and his employment history. The Court agreed with the State and sentenced Laird to 2 years in jail while emphasizing that Laird’s conduct severely violated the public’s trust. Due to Laird committing these crimes as a Ripley County Jail Officer, he will serve his time in a neighboring county jail.
In reference to Laird’s sentence, Prosecuting Attorney Ric Hertel stated, “Laird’s conduct was extremely dangerous and placed the safety and welfare of the other jail staff, inmates, law enforcement officers, and the community in jeopardy. Laird took advantage of the public’s trust by trafficking contraband to inmates while working as a jail officer. His conduct warrants the aggravated sentence he received.”
