Scott County Jail guard arrested

A Scott County corrections officer is accused of corruption and bribery.

Ryan Alan Degen, 27, of Sikeston, Missouri, was arrested Wednesday by the Scott County Sheriff's Department.

Degen is charged with acceding corruption and agreeing to accept money or prescription pills from two inmates in exchange for a violation of his legal duties and a misdemeanor of delivering or concealing prohibited articles on the premises.

According to a probable-cause statement from Scott County Sheriff's Department detective Darrin Sides, Degen concealed a bag containing loose smoking tobacco, rolling papers and a lighter with the intent to distribute the items to inmates housed in the jail.

Degen reportedly was working with inmate Jeremy Floyd and civilian Sharon Davis. After Degen was arrested, a search of his wallet revealed a note that stated there was $125, four packages and that the writer can get full "scripts."

Inmate Kevin Dudley said Degen normally would charge $50 per drop but sometimes accepted prescription pills as payment, Sides wrote.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

131 S. New Madrid St., Benton, Mo.