MINERAL COUNTY - Mineral County Sheriff Ernie Ornelas and Undersheriff Mike Boone were present at a regular meeting of the Mineral County Commissioners on Dec. 31 to field questions regarding the condition of the county jail. 

Concerns were raised by several county employees regarding two incidents in which inmates vandalized their cells – one involving the use of a smuggled lighter to create a hole in a natural light window  and the other a broken off piece of metal that is used as a cover for the sink. 

“Unless they’re a convicted felon it is really touchy ground to strip search when they come in on something like a traffic warrant,” Undersheriff Boone said of the inmate who smuggled a lighter into the facility. 

Sheriff Ornelas added the inmate in question was let out temporarily to attend a funeral and it is suspected that is when he hid the lighter in his body.  

“In reality we probably shouldn’t have let him out,” Sheriff Ornelas said. “The lighter didn’t show up until after he was released.” 

The inmate in question was brought in on a felony charge and Undersheriff Boone said that he was strip searched upon arrival to the jail. 

Commissioner Duane Simons asked Sheriff Ornelas and Undersheriff Boone if the problem could be solved by checking the cells more often.

Undersheriff Boone answered Commissioner Simons stating due to low staffing at the jail, inmates are able to “pattern” jail employees and know when they are out of sight. 

In the past, members of the Sheriff’s Office have participated in cell shakedowns as a result of the short staffing in the jail. But with the Sheriff’s Office also short Deputies, it makes participating in the shakedowns a challenge. 

“The problem is that this particular inmate has been in state prison,” Sheriff Ornelas said. “They’ve been around the block, they know how to do these things in small facilities and they take advantage of it.” 

Sheriff Ornelas added the design of the facility enables inmates to see when jail staff is present in the communication center. 

“I talked to the former jail supervisor to see what we can come up with to prevent that ability,” Sheriff Ornelas said. “One of the things is a film that we can use a type of film that is reflective but it is very cost prohibitive. The facility, the way they built it, is poorly done. So if they can see when someone goes in the communication center or when the detention officer leaves they know right away when to hide.” 

Commissioner Simons said “we have to keep everyone safe” and mentioned county employees such as Roy Kay, who are responsible for maintenance on the cells if a problem occurs. 

Discussion on the safety concerns and the two incidents continued and Undersheriff Boone said it “boils down to a man power issue.” 

Mention of a report conducted on the prison facility was made. The report contains suggestions made by a consultant with regards to the efficiency and build of the prison. Sheriff Ornelas and Undersheriff Boone stated that since the report was made during the previous administration they have not seen it. 

The county commissioners then said they would arrange for a copy of the report to be given to the Sheriff’s Office for review before the discussion continues.