Joseph Allen Bermingham

Patrick L. Bass

     Two current Baxter County Jail inmates are facing additional charges after an investigation was conducted into their attempts to obtain drugs and contraband to be smuggled inside the jail.

     On June 10th, Sheriff’s personnel intercepted a detailed communication indicating that one of the two inmates, while out on a work crew, would attempt to obtain contraband from a third party and then later smuggle it back inside the jail for the use of himself and a second inmate.  The contraband being sought included marijuana, prescription pharmaceuticals, and tobacco.

     The effort was thwarted after investigators followed-up on the communication.

     Jail Inmates PATRICK L. BASS, 33 years old, and JOSEPH ALLEN BERMINGHAM, 39 years old, are now each charged additionally with:

Criminal Attempt – Furnishing, Possessing, or Using Prohibited Articles – Felony
Conspiracy – Felony

     Bond is $15,000 for each on these new charges, and they inmates will appear in Circuit Court to answer later this month.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff