PRESS RELEASE – On August 7th, 2023, Towns County Sheriff’s Office Investigators Lt. Ryan Forsyth and Sgt. Mike Franklin received a tip that a cell phone had been smuggled into the Towns County Detention Center.
The Towns County Detention Center Major James Baldwin ordered an immediate lockdown of the inmates, and a search was conducted, and a cell phone was located.
Investigators revealed that a Towns County Detention Center employee had smuggled the cell phone into the Detention Center and was given to a specific inmate.
The following person(s) was formally charged with the following:
Erin Ashley Brown, 36 of Young Harris, GA
• Violation of oath by public officer
• Obtain, procure, or give inmate prohibited items without
authorization.
Sheriff Ken Henderson commends the quick action and investigation into locating the cell phone and ultimately identifying the detention officer responsible. Sheriff Henderson wants it to be known that this type of behavior will not be tolerated, and that detention center security is very important and the detention officer who is currently being held without bond is facing serious charges.