by Jo Ellen Nott

On January 13, 2023, a former prison guard from the Graceville Correctional Facility in northwest Florida near the Georgia state line was arrested and charged with two counts of sexual misconduct, two counts of conspiracy to introduce contraband, and 67 counts of unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior.  

Lawana Mekell Sharpe, 38, of Greenwood, had worked for four years at the lockup. In more than 70 criminal charges, she is accused of having sex with an inmate, smuggling contraband into the prison, and accepting more than $12,000 in electronic payments as bribes. 

An investigation began in September 2021, after prison staff discovered an inconsistency in one prisoner’s JPay account. Investigators then found messages sent to the prisoner from a fake account under the name “Candy Williams.” As they researched further, they discovered that Candy Williams was Sgt. Sharpe. 

Seven days later, Sharpe was accused of having a sexual relationship with the prisoner who was receiving messages from her. At that point the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the state Department of Corrections (DOC) started its investigation. Sharpe’s employment ended on September 30, 2021.

The prisoner in question told investigators he met Sharpe when he arrived at the prison, and she gave him her personal cell phone number. The prisoner also said they spoke on the recorded prison phone line, on a contraband cell phone and through Facebook messenger. 

In the probable cause affidavit filed by OIG Senior Inspector William Dalton on January 6, 2023, the prisoner advised that “Sergeant Sharpe would perform oral sex on him every night she worked.” The prisoner also said he and Sharpe “had vaginal intercourse [five to six] times in different areas of B-dormitory.” 

Sharpe admitted to creating the fictitious JPay account and having sex with the prisoner – although her version related considerably fewer encounters. She also confessed during a sworn interrogation to smuggling hundreds of cigars either in her panties or in her vagina. 

Sharpe’s Cash App account allegedly received 67 separate payments between January and October 2021. These payments totaled $12,160 and came from eight different accounts. The account owners were identified as prisoners, their families or known associates.

Sharpe is also facing one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device and one count of interference with prisoners. Her bond was set at $187,500. 

Source:  Jackson County Times, Law & Crime, WDHN

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