Charges dropped against Whitley deputy jailer in contraband case

The charges against a former Whitley County deputy jailer accused of working with inmates to bring contraband into the Whitley County Detention Center have been dropped, but the case likely isn’t going away entirely.

Heath Rexroat, 24, of Williamsburg, appeared in Whitley District Court for a scheduled preliminary hearing Monday morning along with co-defendants Jimmy Ray Canada, 46, and Woodrow Lawson, 50, both of Williamsburg; however, no testimony was provided to the court.

Instead, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney John Reynolds noted that an investigation was still ongoing into the alleged incident before moving to dismiss the case against all three men.

Rexroat’s attorney, B.J. Foley, immediately contested the motion by prosecutors.

“I find myself in an unusual situation: We’re sitting here, the officer is here, the Commonwealth is here, my client is here, but because there’s an ongoing investigation, we seem to be protecting that over individual’s rights. That’s what is the most important thing here,” said Foley. “I object to dismissing it. We know you’re (prosecutors) going to go to the grand jury.”

Despite Foley’s objection, Judge Fred White ruled to dismiss the case without prejudice—meaning that the charges can potentially be re-filed at a later date. Charges dismissed at the district court level can still be brought forth in circuit court and presented to a grand jury for indictment.

Rexroat was arrested Sept. 25 and charged with first-degree promoting contraband and second-degree official misconduct following an investigation by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department.

Canada and Lawson, who were incarcerated when the alleged incident occurred, were also charged with first-degree promoting contraband. Online jail records show that Canada had been in jail since Sept. 9 on various charges, including first-degree possession of a controlled substance, and Lawson had been in jail since last October on charges of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and persistent felony offender.

Whitley County Sheriff’s Lt. Wayne Bird previously told the News Journal that he was contacted by Jailer Jason Wilson on Sept. 18 requesting a meeting, which led to the charges being levied against the three men.

According to Rexroat’s arrest citation, on Sept. 13, he allegedly conspired with Canada and Lawson to bring contraband into the jail by way of a pair of shoes. The citation stated that concealed within the shoes was three Suboxone strips and five Suboxone pills.

The citation did not indicate where the contraband came from, simply claiming that Rexroat allegedly got the items from an “outside source.”

Rexroat was placed in the Laurel County Correctional Facility, but was released on a $7,500 cash bond the day after being arrested.

Canada and Lawson both remain jailed in the Whitley County Detention Center.