Corrections Officer Arrested for Smuggling Narcotics into Sevier County Jail

A Sevier County corrections officer, an inmate and the inmate’s mother have been arrested for allegedly taking part in a smuggling scheme to get narcotics to an inmate inside the jail.

Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals says that deputies were acting on a tip that narcotics were going to be smuggled to an inmate inside the Sevier County Jail annex when they searched an item carried into the facility by Sevier County Corrections Officer Joshua Davis, 24, as he reported to work on Thursday and found the drugs.

Joshua Davis, 24

Davis was arrested and charged with Introducing Contraband into a Penal Facility, Criminal Conspiracy and Possession of a Schedule III Narcotic for Resale. He was booked into the Sevier County Jail under a $30,000 bond.

37-year-old Billy R. McMahan, an inmate at the jail, was also charged with Conspiracy to Introduce Contraband into a Penal Facility.

After an investigation, officers also arrested McMahan’s mother Debra L. McMahan, 58, of Long Branch Road in Sevierville, for allegedly participating in the smuggling scheme and charged her with with Criminal Conspiracy, Introduction of Contraband into a Penal Facility and Sale and Delivery of a Schedule III Narcotic. She was awaiting arraignment before a Magistrate.

Billy R. McMahan. 37

Debra L. McMahan, 58

In November 2016, a jail employee and three others were arrested in an unrelated conspiracy to smuggle narcotics and other contraband into the jail.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.