A detention officer at the Collin County Jail was arrested on Monday after he admitted to assisting an inmate in obtaining contraband, including a cell phone.
A phone and charger were found in an inmate’s cell in the Collin County Jail on October 10. Detention Officer Tyler Moody, 21, who has been employed since 2019, reportedly confessed to the Sheriff’s Office that he gave the illegal items to the inmate.
In a video released by the Sheriff’s office, Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner told Moody he was being arrested for breaching Texas Penal Code 38.11, which details prohibited substances and items in correctional or civil commitment facilities.
He also ordered Moody to remove his uniform and dismissed him from service for his gross misconduct.
“Let me just make it easy,” Skinner said. “You’re fired. You’re no longer an employee here.”
“You betrayed the trust of every citizen that we have the privilege to serve. And you’ve betrayed the trust of the brave and selfless men and women that you’ve worked alongside for nearly three years,” the sheriff continued. “So, as of this moment, you’re under arrest for bringing a prohibited item, a cell phone, into a correctional facility as a third-degree felony. You have any questions about that?”
Sheriff Skinner concluded by saying, “When you’re going to be cuffed, first thing that you want to do is stand up and take that uniform shirt off. You don’t deserve to wear it.”
Skinner, who has been sheriff since January 2017, is a 32-year law-enforcement veteran, trial attorney, and former prosecutor.
Moody has been released from custody after posting bail, which had been set at $5,000. Officials have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, and Sheriff Skinner reportedly expects there to be more arrests as authorities identify additional suspects.