A couple was arrested over the weekend after their claim of duck hunting at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman led to the seizure of a gun and several other contraband items.
34 year-old Rachel Ann Maddox and 27 year-old probationer Rodney Pierce, both of Greenville, are facing three charges in connection with the .380 semi-automatic pistol found with two loaded magazines, tobacco, cell phones, cell phone chargers and alcohol in Maddox’s Ford Ranger near Unit 32.
Maddox and Pierce allegedly were attempting to get the contraband into the prison Saturday morning when her truck became stuck in the mud. Maddox got out of the truck, waved down a prison security van and alleged that she was duck hunting and needed help moving her truck.
Prison officials questioned Maddox’s story and subsequently found the contraband. She and Pierce were taken to the Sunflower County Jail.
“I am most appreciative of the diligence of our staff who thwarted an attempt to introduce contraband that could have been detrimental to the operations of the penitentiary,” Commissioner Pelicia E. Hall said.
Maddox’s bond was set at $25,000 and Pierce’s was set at $100,000. At the time of his arrest, Pierce was on probation for burglary, receiving stolen property and (two counts) grand larceny in Washington County.
The charges and punishment are as follows:
- sale, possession, or use of alcoholic beverages within correctional facility (§97-31-35), which carries a maximum $10,000 fine, a minimum two years in prison and a maximum five years, or both;
- possession of prohibited items on prison grounds (§47-5-192), punishable by a maximum one year in prison or a $1,000 fine, or both; and
- two counts of introduction of contraband (§47-5-193), which is punishable by a minimum three years and a maximum 15 years or $25,000 fine, or both.
