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Cocke County Jail Saga continues
Last week the Cocke County Legislative Body approved a new budget which earmarks $112,000 for a new jail. The current jails are overcrowded and uncertified. And on Wednesday jail officials found that inmates were working to tunnel their way out of a cell that housed 14 male inmates. Thursday afternoon the jail was again surrounded by Cocke County and Newport cruisers. "We have approximately 17 inmates who are in the recreational yard and have been there for several hours because we have nowhere to place them while we make maintenance repairs to the third floor jail. We had alot of things torn up in the jail by the inmates," explained Cocke County Sheriff Armando Fontes. "We also had an inmate during the night, tear out insulation in the ceiling and make it into the ductwork. So we are having to make those repairs. As a result, these inmates have been in the recreation yard for close to seven hours. They have been kicking the doors, screaming, acting violent and causing our jailers alot of problems because the jail is antiquated and worn out." The sheriff says he doesn't know what will happen as a result of housing 206 inmates in the two jails that have a total of 131 beds. "We are extremely overpopulated, and we aren't getting help from the county commission. They have passed a new budget that does not help the county highway department, the school system or address jail needs. Thankfully we have new commissioners who are coming on board and hopefully they will see the serious issue of what's going on and will do something to help in such a way that it's not a burden on taxpayers but it does address issues." Some in the community have speculated that Sheriff Fontes might file a lawsuit to force the legislative body to address the jail issues. "I have no desire whatsoever to sue the county, I'm not going to sue the county nor will I ever sue the county. I am working with what I'm given. The jail is the sole responsibility of the county commission to address. The problem that the citizens of this community need to be concerned about is the federal lawsuits that is going to wind up costing them a massive tax increase as a result of negligence for not addressing the serious overcrowding issues and lack of manpower in the jail. Sheriff Fontes points out that both jails are de-certified, are extremely understaffed and are "falling apart." "These are all things I cannot fix unless the county gives me the ability to do that. My job is to run the jails, not to build jails. So all I'm doing is to keep the liability off myself and my staff."
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Return to Today's News Stories - Front PageThursday, April 29, 2021
US 411 Project News
Mill Creek Wildfire Update
More Bad News For Smokies' Fans
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Mill Creek Wildfire doubles in size
Goodbye Smokies?
Keep Cocke County Beautiful
Cocke Co. High School Remote Learning today!
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
The fireflies are coming!
Burnout Operations on MillCreek wildfire today
Gas prices drop
Tennessee keeps all US House seats
Monday, April 26, 2021
Boat accident victim ID'd
Traffic stop yields drug arrest
Cocke County Wildfires
Friday, April 23, 2021
Leaving WNPC
Mathis announces candidacy
Newport drug roundup
Cruise Against Cancer
Jobless numbers
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