Former prison official pleads guilty to drug charges

Daniel L. Bamberg

reporter

A former employee of the Alabama Department of Corrections entered a plea of “blind” to three charges on August 24, before the Bibb County Circuit Judge Jack Meigs.  The charges include Promoting Prison Contraband 2^nd degree, Possession of Marijuana 1^st degree, and Attempted Distribution of a Controlled Substance.  This plea is an admission of guilt, without a plea deal offered from the state.  This leaves the sentencing up to the state at a later date.  During a routine search of employees on April 2, 2008 Woodrow W. Richardson, a Correctional Officer at the Bibb Correctional Facility was arrested.  The 37-year old from Monroeville, was found to have in his possession 4 bags of marijuana wrapped in duct tape.  According to Richardson an inmate had offered him $800 for the controlled substance.  He met with an unidentified man in Prattville, Alabama who tossed a bag containing the payoff and the marijuana in Richardson’s car.  All Richardson had to do was deliver the drug. 

After his arrest Richardson resigned his position of the Alabama Department of Corrections.  According to District Attorney Mike Jackson the former correctional officer could be facing over twenty years in prison.  “Mr. Richardson has violated his oath and duty as an officer,” said Jackson.