A Morgan County corrections officer has pleaded guilty to assault charges after he reportedly tampered with an inmate’s cigarettes and causing several inmates to get sick.
Court documents state that Jaylend Edward Handley was working at the Morgan County Jail last October when he sprayed a prisoners’ cigarettes with an irritating spray typically reserved for self-defense. The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation after multiple inmates experienced respiratory issues. Handley was terminated and arrested on Oct. 22.
Handley pleaded guilty on Wednesday to four counts of third-degree assault. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail and two years of unsupervised probation.