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Written by: A. Smith
Published April 4, 2025 @ 8:30 AM ET
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ga. – A 22-year-old man from Augusta was arrested Wednesday after authorities say he was found near Washington State Prison carrying bags filled with contraband intended for inmates.
According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 11:41 a.m. to reports of a suspicious individual walking near the prison grounds. With assistance from a Georgia Department of Corrections K9 unit, officers located the man—identified as Jamel Barnes—in a field east of the facility. He was taken into custody just after noon.
Barnes is facing a slate of charges, including three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, four counts of furnishing prohibited items to inmates, trading with inmates without the warden’s permission, criminal trespass, and providing a false name to law enforcement.
Sheriff Joel Cochran commended the quick action by responding teams and emphasized the ongoing commitment to maintaining prison security.
“We want those with ill intentions to understand that this collaboration and effort will persist,” Cochran said. “If you don’t want to spend a significant amount of time behind bars, stay out of Washington County if you’re planning to engage in illegal activities.”