A jail officer in Morgan County, Alabama, named Jarvis Moore, recently found himself in a difficult and troubling situation. He was arrested and charged with felonies for allegedly extorting inmates and taking their personal belongings. Moore, who had been working at the Morgan County jail for 24 years, was shocked and devastated by the accusations. He strongly denies any wrongdoing and believes that his arrest was a form of retaliation from the jail after a video of a man who died in their custody was leaked.
According to Moore's lawyer, Scott Morro, the charges against Moore are not specific and do not mention the items he is accused of taking or any specific threats he may have made. Moore, who is diabetic and claims to not even eat honey buns, feels the need to clear his name and let people know that he is innocent. He says, "I just want people to know that I didn't do this. It's killing me to see my name being dragged through the mud like this."
Moore is facing seven counts of extortion following an investigation that began in August. The court records allege that he threatened inmates in order to obtain their personal property. However, Moore insists that this was a common practice at the jail and had been going on for years. He explains that the policy allowed officers to take away commissary items from misbehaving inmates and give them to those with good conduct. Apparently, honey buns were often confiscated because they could be used to make alcohol in jail. Moore claims that he was only following the rules and that he did not steal anything.
The situation has not only affected Moore's reputation but has also made it difficult for him to find employment. After being fired from Morgan County, he briefly worked at the Madison County jail but was terminated after his arrest because he was still on probation. Moore has a court appearance scheduled for May 27, and he hopes to clear his name and move on from this ordeal.
Moore believes that his arrest and firing were in retaliation for his actions. He claims that he was accused of leaking surveillance footage showing a man named John Scott Jr. being dragged inside the jail before his death in April. Moore also mentions that he was repeatedly passed over for promotion to lieutenant and that his arrest came just weeks after he publicly endorsed Ana Franklin for sheriff.
However, Sheriff Ron Puckett denies these claims and insists that Moore's arrest was solely based on his actions. He states that Moore was interviewed twice for the promotion but was not selected. Puckett also denies any form of retaliation and says, "It was a result of Mr. Moore's own actions." The sheriff also adds that the charges against Moore go beyond just the alleged theft of snacks.
Moore's situation has gained attention and has even been compared to a recent incident in New York City where the mayor received a jailhouse baptism from Al Sharpton. The community is divided, with some supporting Moore and others questioning his innocence. Only time will tell how this case will unfold and what the truth behind these allegations really is.
