Pike County Jail inmates charged with smuggling drugs into jail

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Three inmates in the Pike County Jail have been charged with smuggling drugs into the jail.

The Pike County Sheriff’s Department initiated a drug investigation at the Pike County Jail at 9:10 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17 and determined that inmates, working as trustees, had smuggled methamphetamine into the Pike County Jail, though no contraband made it to the jail cells. 

David Greenwood, sheriff for Pike County, said trustees are people in the jail for “not-very-serious crimes” and are not considered a threat to escape. Trustees may be asked to do things at the facility such as empty garbage or mow the grass.

Sarah M. Burton, 34, of Manchester was arrested on the following charges:

• Bringing contraband (methamphetamine) into a penal institution,
• Unlawful delivery of methamphetamine,
• Unlawful possession of methamphetamine.

Richard S. Burton, 41, of Manchester was arrested on the following charges:

• Bringing contraband (methamphetamine) into a penal institution,
• Unlawful delivery of methamphetamine,
• Unlawful possession of methamphetamine,
• Unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

James R. Merryman, 55, of Pittsfield was arrested on the following charges:

• Unlawful possession of a controlled substance in a penal institution,
• unlawful possession of methamphetamine,
• unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.