4 arrested in contraband sting
A Louisville man was arrested Monday evening and is the last of four suspects believed to be involved in an alleged conspiracy to smuggle contraband into the Neshoba County Detention Center, the authorities said.
The man, Adam Devine, Jr., 27, 1549 Young Crossing, Louisville, was arrested at about 5 p.m by Newton County law enforcement at his sister’s residence hiding under a bed on Braddock Road near Decatur.
Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark said Devine remains in Newton County custody because he is wanted on drug charges there as well. Devine faces two felony warrants from Neshoba County, Clark said.
The penalty for the felonies is a $5,000 fine and five years in prison for each offense if convicted, according to Clark.
The three arrested last week include Cherilyn Devine and inmates Daniel Todd Dennington and Patrick Atkinson, according to Clark.
Devine, 47, 20407 Highway 15 south, was arrested and charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime for conspiring to introduce drugs into a correctional facility and one count of introducing drug contraband into a correctional facility, Clark said.
Atkinson, 43, 10471 Road 365, was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime for coordinating the efforts.
Dennington, 41, 18820 Highway 21 south was charged with bringing contraband into a correctional facility.
On July 12, Neshoba County Detention staff intercepted two packages as they were being brought into the facility, Clark said.
Dennington was caught bringing in the packages. Clark said the packages contained tobacco, THC vape pens, rolling papers, cigarette lighters, buprenorphine strips, and a clear crystal substance consistent with methamphetamine, Clark said.
“Dennington had been transported to a local clinic for a medical evaluation,” Clark said. “The contraband was concealed in the restroom of the clinic and picked up by Dennington during his visit.”
Atkinson, who is currently a prisoner being held awaiting Mississippi Department of Corrections pickup on a Drug Court violation, is responsible for paying for the shipment, according to Clark.
Clark said that during the investigation audio recordings, video recordings, photos, and written statements were gathered to aid in the prosecution of the case.
Cherilyn Devine and Adam Devine Jr. were found to be responsible for the placement of the contraband, Clark said.
Cherilyn Devine was arrested late afternoon on Wednesday, July 12, during a traffic stop on Highway 15 in Philadelphia and questioned about her involvement in the crime.
During the traffic stop, Cherilyn Devine was charged with careless driving, driving under a suspended license and possession of a controlled substance.
Clark said Adam Devine’s arrest on Monday, July 17, came from a tip received by his office.