Man busted for distributing drugs in jail

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Stoddard County man who already was in legal trouble is in more hot water after allegedly distributing prescription narcotics while incarcerated in the Stoddard County Jail.

David Harold Hamlyn Jr. had returned to the jail Aug. 22 from a medical furlough, according to a report. He had a blue nylon bag that was kept with his personal property, but Aug. 26, Hamlyn said he needed the bag. The report states Hamlyn had concealed what witnesses described as pills inside the bag's lining.

Witnesses said Hamlyn distributed some of the Somas, Xanax and hydrocodone pills to other inmates in the jail.

"[Hamlyn] knew he would be able to access that bag while in the jail," Hefner said. "He had been in the jail before and needed it then for medical reasons."

Hefner said it is nothing new for inmates to try to smuggle contraband into the jail.

"We always have to be on the lookout for things like that, because they always try," Hefner remarked.

Hefner said this instance is the first he can remember when an inmate distributed drugs inside the jail.

The matter is still being investigated.