Hidden recording device allegedly found in Carter Co. jail attorney room - KFOR Oklahoma City

ARDMORE, Okla. (KFOR) – State agents are investigating aft a hidden signaling instrumentality was recovered wrong a airy fixture installed successful the Carter County Jail’s lawyer room. 

“It’s conscionable specified a shocking usurpation of law rights that I didn’t privation to believe,” said Jason May, a defence lawyer based successful Ardmore.

However, aft May confirmed the alarming find with his ain eyes, helium was near with zero doubt. 

“It was 100% wide what it was,” said May. “You could spot that determination was a screw that was missing and done the spread you could spot a lens and past you could besides spot the wires underneath the solid information of the airy fixture… It’s upsetting. My clients request to cognize that what they accidental to maine is confidential.” 

“The bugging of an lawyer country is simply a wide usurpation of the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the United States Constitution,” added May. 

Device successful lawyer room. Image courtesy Jason May.

May said helium reported his uncovering to the Attorney General’s Office and days later, went to the lawyer country again and saw that the missing screw had been replaced. He added that the wires were inactive present. 

“If it truly was an honorable mistake and the sheriff was amazed to find it, I don’t cognize wherefore helium would screen up what was there,” said May. 

On Wednesday, the Carter County Sheriff, Chris Bryant, sent KFOR the pursuing connection saying successful part, “After being made alert of allegations that a signaling instrumentality was hidden successful the lawyer lawsuit country astatine the Carter region detention center, the country was checked, and a instrumentality was successful information located successful the airy fixture. The instrumentality appeared to beryllium antiquated and not successful moving condition.” 

Bryant added, “After discussing this find with my astir tenured investigator, helium recalled that a erstwhile sheriff successful 2002 had authorized a signaling instrumentality to beryllium placed successful a airy fixture for the constricted intent of a azygous probe that led to the apprehension and condemnation of an attorney, Twana Cherese Smith, for smuggling contraband into the country to supply to her client/son, convicted murderer of Heath Rich and situation escapee, Josh Bagwell, to assistance successful a planned flight from the Carter County Jail. Smith was charged connected March 26, 2002 of Felony Carrying into Jail Things to Aid Escape.”

“She allegedly snuck successful a hacksaw leaf truthful that helium could effort to, I guess, chopped his mode done the bars to get retired of jail,” said May. 

In his property release, Bryant said helium has nary crushed to judge the signaling instrumentality has been utilized since that peculiar probe successful 2002. He said connected Wednesday morning, helium initiated an probe by the OSBI to corroborate this. The signaling instrumentality was besides turned implicit to the authorities agents. 

“Honestly, adjacent if it’s not being used, the information that a signaling instrumentality is contiguous is inactive a usurpation of law rights nether the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the US Constitution,” said May. 

With the sheriff saying the instrumentality whitethorn person been determination since 2002, we asked him, if that was the case, wherefore hadn’t the instrumentality been removed astatine immoderate constituent during the past 2 decades, adjacent erstwhile the lightbulbs wrong that fixture went retired and had to beryllium changed. 

“I can’t reply that… that was 4 administrations ago,” said Bryant. “It’s not a wont for maine to travel the attraction guys, but erstwhile I was made alert of the situation, I acted swiftly.”