Taylor quits as jailer

Jerry Taylor is no longer Whitley County Jailer.
Taylor, his attorney, Ron Reynolds, and a former deputy jailer walked into the office of Whitley County Judge-Executive Mike Patrick about 3:30 p.m. Friday, where Taylor submitted a one sentence resignation letter.
“Due to my failing health and continuing medical problems, I do hereby resign my elected position of Whitley County Jailer, effective immediately,” the letter stated noting that the resignation was effective at 3:30 p.m.
Patrick said that he hopes to appoint a new jailer early next week to fill out the remainder of Taylor’s term, which expires at midnight on Dec. 31, 2006.
Patrick said that he no longer plans to continue negotiations with Knox County to turn the facility into a regional jail, and feels that the Department of Corrections will allow Whitley County officials to re-open the facility in the near future.
The Department of Corrections closed the Whitley County Jail on July 23 citing “unwillingness to change the status quo” by Jailer Jerry Taylor and his staff as part of the reason for filing suit in Frankfort to close the Whitley County Jail.
“Taylor’s malfeasance in office and disregard of Department of Corrections directives, applicable law and regulations poses an imminent threat to the safety of inmates, staff and the public at large, so that immediate, irreparable injury will be sustained if the Whitley County Detention Center is permitted to remain open,” correction’s officials wrote in the lawsuit.
On Sept. 14, a Whitley County Grand Jury handed down a 19-count indictment against Taylor charging him with five counts of first-degree forgery, five counts of theft by unlawful taking over $300, and for four counts each of trafficking in a controlled substance and promoting contraband. In addition, Taylor was also indicted for misfeasance and/or malfeasance in office and/or willful neglect in the discharge of his official duties, which is a misdemeanor offense.
His son and former chief deputy jailer Jerry A. Taylor was indicted for seven counts of trafficking in a controlled substance and for seven counts of promoting contraband.
Taylor and his son are scheduled to be arraigned Monday, but because Circuit Judge Jerry Winchester has recused himself from hearing the case, whether that arraignment will take place is uncertain. Taylor and his attorney have reportedly been in negotiations with the special prosecutor in the case over a possible plea agreement, but there has been no word on whether a plea agreement has been worked out.