Former Clark County corrections officer accused of allowing inmates access to keys

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A former corrections officer at the Clark County Jail in Jeffersonville is now on the wrong side of the law himself.

David Lowe, 29, was arrested Sunday night and fired Monday after court records said he admitted to allowing inmates access to secure areas of the jail in exchange for $1,000.

"When we received the tip, we had the individual in the jail within a few hours, which helped our investigation and the safety and security of the facility," said Scottie Maples, chief deputy of the Clark County Sheriff's Office.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Lowe told a sheriff’s department investigator he agreed to the deal with an inmate on Oct. 23. Lowe said he propped open a door in one the jail's pods that leads to a secure area. Police said a review of video footage revealed Lowe entering a pod with a blood pressure cart, "acting like he was taking a blood pressure reading from an inmate deep inside the pod area, with his back to the main door" that Lowe left propped open.

While Lowe's back was turned, two inmates began searching for and removing items from the pod office and concealing them under their clothing, the affidavit said.

After his rights were read to him, police said Lowe admitted he "intentionally placed himself deep into the pod with his back to the door to allow inmates access to the open pod doors." Once inside the pod office, inmates removed keys allowing access to parts of the jail, along with other unknown items, according to the affidavit.

"The keys that were obtained were not security, exit doors," Maples said. "They wouldn't have been able to escape with those keys. They would have allowed internal movement within the jail probably to traffic things."

Lowe said he worked as a corrections officer for about a year, and his duties included pill call, serving meals and working in different pods of the jail.

"We are still investigating all the incidents we can," Maples said. "The subject here was criminally charged. I don't anticipate other charges coming to inmates. The main focus was if we had a corrupt officer, to put him in jail."

Lowe is charged with trafficking with an inmate, aiding escape and official misconduct. Those are two felonies and a misdemeanor. A judge set bond at $10,000 full cash. An initial hearing was scheduled in Clark Circuit Court Tuesday morning, and Maples said Lowe was then released on his own recognizance.