ATHENS COUNTY, Ohio — The Southeast Major Crimes Task Force has apprehended a corrections officer at the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail following the discovery of evidence implicating the officer in the transportation and distribution of contraband within the facility.
Sheriff Rodney Smith, speaking on behalf of the Task Force, confirmed that an investigation was initiated after uncovering substantial evidence. Numerous inmates were found to be transferring money to the corrections officer through a digital currency application. In return, the officer allegedly distributed illicit items, including nicotine pouches and illegal narcotics, to the incarcerated population.
The suspect, identified as William McMillan Jr., aged 24, from Glouster, was taken into custody on March 14, 2024. McMillan was located in Trimble Township and subsequently transported to the Athens County Sheriff’s Office for questioning. During the interview, McMillan reportedly confessed to accepting money from inmates and providing them with the prohibited items.
McMillan now faces serious charges, including:
- Drug Trafficking (F4)
- Illegal Conveyance of Drugs/Prohibited Items Onto Grounds of Detention Facility (F3)
Due to his recent employment at the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, McMillan has been transferred to the Muskingum County Jail pending further legal proceedings. In a court appearance today, he was released on his own recognizance, with an ankle monitor as a condition of release. The case will be forwarded to the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office, where additional charges are anticipated.
Authorities continue to investigate the extent of McMillan’s involvement and whether other individuals within the facility were complicit in these illicit activities.