By The Financial District
Dec 26, 20222 min
A former north Alabama prison guard was arrested and now faces a litany of charges, including promoting contraband in a state prison. The forbidden items? Hamburgers.
Photo Insert: Four of the contraband charges levied against Jason Chambers concern his alleged possession of hamburgers.
Online court records show that former Limestone Correctional Facility officer Jason Chambers and his wife Sophia Chambers surrendered to the Limestone County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday after the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) issued warrants for their arrests, Evan Mealins reported for the Montgomery Advertiser. Both were booked and released on a $5,000 bond.
Authorities claim that Jason and Sophia Chambers were implicated in an ongoing investigation that found he brought in several apparently illicit materials in return for cash over a five-month period ending in October.
"(ADOC) Agt. Ken Pierce has probable cause for believing ... James Wesley Chambers ... intentionally and unlawfully makes, obtains or possesses any contraband, to wit: Hamburgers," a complaint from Pierce reads.
Court records show Jason Chambers now faces six counts for promoting prison contraband, seven counts of using his office for personal gain, and one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Sofia Chambers is charged with four counts of bribing a public servant, one count of promoting prison contraband, and one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Four of the contraband charges levied against Jason Chambers concern his alleged possession of hamburgers, while the other two charges are related to the possession of a smartwatch and a National Geographic magazine.
A complaint from Pierce implicates Sophia Chambers in bringing in the smartwatch to Limestone Correctional Facility. The ADOC said Jason Chambers was hired on Oct. 20, 2021, and resigned on Nov. 3, 2022.