Nacogdoches Co. jailer arrested for furnishing inmate with cell phone

NACOGDOCHES — A jailer of the Nacogdoches County Jail was arrested Tuesday and her employment was terminated after she allegedly provided an inmate with a cell phone the previous weekend, according to Nacogdoches County Sheriff Thomas Kerss.

The cell phone was recovered inside the jail on Sunday, Jan. 6, and information from inmates and staff indicated that the jailer, Tnisha Steadman, 25, of Tenaha, was responsible.

Cell phones, like tobacco and weapons, are considered contraband items, Kerss said, because of the security risk they pose, and because jail staff need to monitor the communications of inmates.

"It's not only illegal for the inmates to possess contraband, it's illegal for individuals to provide contraband to the inmate," he said.

The sheriff also described the investigation leading to Tuesday's arrest.

"The staff was also able to put together that she was the jailer (on duty) during that shift," Kerss said. "I can't speak as to the motivation behind why she choose to do that, but it was certainly a very costly decision on her part.

"The motive will most likely stay unclear, because once she was no longer employed here and was arrested, she has Miranda rights just like anyone else," Kerss said, referring to a suspect's "right to remain silent." "Though it is our belief that the jailer and the inmate were acquaintances to some regard, but we are unsure of the actual connection."

Steadman was arrested the next shift which she appeared for work, which was on Tuesday.

"She had called in sick on Monday," Kerss said. "We waited until she came in on Tuesday because we wanted to give her a chance to explain, but nothing said led us to believe it wasn't an intentional act done on her part."

Steadman's bond was set at $5,000, which has been posted.

"We don't hold ourselves above the law," Kerss said, "and we take this matter seriously and will deal with it appropriately."