AUGUSTA, Ga. – An Augusta man is facing accusations of attempting to smuggle contraband into a Washington state prison., a resident listed in public arrest records, was taken into custody on April 5, 2025, in Featured County, Georgia. According to the official booking report, the arrest was made by local authorities and the subject was charged with the following offense(s): unspecified charges. This incident was officially recorded and made publicly available by law enforcement agencies in the state of Georgia. The details provided reflect the arrest information at the time of booking and do not indicate guilt or conviction. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ga. – A 22-year-old Augusta man was arrested Wednesday after being caught near Washington State Prison with bags containing contraband intended for inmates.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies responded to a tip about a suspicious individual walking near the prison at approximately 11:41 a.m. With the help of a Georgia Department of Corrections K9 unit, officers located the suspect, Jamel Barnes, in a field east of the facility. He was taken into custody shortly before noon.
Barnes faces multiple charges, including three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, four counts of furnishing prohibited items to inmates, trading with inmates without authorization, criminal trespass, and providing a false name to law enforcement.
Sheriff Joel Cochran praised the swift response of law enforcement and reiterated the department's dedication to ensuring the safety and security of the prison.
“We want individuals with malicious intent to know that our collaborative efforts to prevent illegal activities will continue,” Cochran stated. “If you don’t want to spend a long time behind bars, stay out of Washington County.”
Disclaimer: All data provided here is taken from public arrest records. This publication does not imply guilt or final conviction.
More Arrests in Featured on April 5, 2025
No other arrests found on this date in Featured.
