A second Bowie County correctional officer has been arrested for attempting to smuggle drugs and tobacco into the Bowie County Correctional Center in less than a week.
According to Bowie County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jeff Neal, while working in the front lobby of the Bowie County Correctional Center Correctional Officer Marquita Newton received food and a milkshake from Sheree Nicole Wright to be delivered to Correctional Officer Billy Wayne Whitle. Mrs. Wright left the correctional center as soon as Officer Newton took possession of the food. Officer Newton searched the food and milkshake as is standard procedure prior to anything entering the facility. It was found there was something concealed in the milkshake that was delivered by Mrs. Wright.
Major Eric Nelson and Lieutenant Guy Wheat were called to take possession of the milkshake and its contents. Officer Whitley was allowed to come down to pick up his food without the milkshake. When Officer Whitley got back to his workstation, he called back downstairs and asked if a milkshake had been left for him also. Officer Whitley was allowed to take possession of the milkshake while Lieutenant Wheat monitored his actions. After receiving the milkshake, Officer Whitley twice took the lid off of the cup to check its contents on the way back to his post.
Lieutenant Wheat stopped Officer Whitley just prior to him returning to his duty station and took possession of the milkshake. Bowie County Deputy Danny French was called to the correctional center to take a report. Once there, he and Major Nelson found the package in the milkshake contained tobacco and marijuana.
According to Neal investigator Robby McCarver received the case the following day and obtained arrest warrants for Prohibited Substance in a Correctional Facility for Officer Whitley and Sheree Wright. Officer Whitley was arrested on April 23, 2015 and Judge Gibson Hadaway set his bond at $50,000.
Shree Nicole Wright, 31 years old, has not been located. Anyone with information on Mrs. Wright’s whereabouts should contact Investigator McCarver at 903.798.3149 or Crime Stoppers at 903.793.STOP.
