Case Explained: Five arrested in dual Brevard County Jail investigation – Legal Perspective

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — An investigation into the Brevard County Jail has led to the arrest of five individuals, including a corrections deputy and a kitchen contractor.

The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the investigation into the jail complex has resulted in five total arrests across two separate cases involving drug smuggling and sexual misconduct.

Drug Conspiracy

Investigators say an investigation began on January 23 when the Special Investigations were tipped off to a jail employee’s involvement in the introduction of narcotics into the jail complex.

Agents identified Anuradha Dabhi as an outside facilitator attempting to smuggle Suboxone and methamphetamine into the facility.

According to the sheriff’s office, Dabhi admitted she was scheduled to meet a jail employee on January 24th to exchange the drugs with then-Brevard County Corrections Deputy Chloe Deaton.

Deputies surveilled the meeting location and arrested Deaton on counts of:

• Delivery of a controlled substance
• Delivery of Methamphetamine
• Possession of a Controlled Substance without a prescription
• Possession of a Controlled Substance
• Introduction of a Controlled Substance Into a Detention Facility
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

While photos of the other suspects were released, Deaton’s mugshot remains withheld.

“State Statute 119, the photos of a law enforcement officer or certified corrections deputy cannot be released without written permission from the officer,” said Sheriff Wayne Ivey in a video posted to Facebook.

The investigation also revealed that less than a week prior, drugs were successfully smuggled in by Deaton and sold to inmates Charles McClellan and Alexander Munch, who now also face conspiracy charges

See also: Alligator Alcatraz faces federal civil rights lawsuit; claims of barriers to legal counsel

Sexual Misconduct in the Jail Kitchen

In an unrelated investigation, a food service provider at the jail, Lisa Sanders, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly providing cigarettes to an inmate and engaging in sexual activity with the inmate.

Investigators reportedly discovered extensive communications between the two, revealing that the sexual encounters took place in the freezer.

Sanders was booked on counts of sexual misconduct with an inmate, introduction of tobacco products into a county detention facility, and use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.

Sanders is currently being held at the scene of the crime, Brevard County Jail, on $15,000 bond.

Our agents continue to try to see if there are other inmates or other people involved,” said Sheriff Ivey. “So the case will be ongoing, but as it stands right now, there have been a total of five arrests made.”