The McIntosh County Sheriff's Department is facing some tough challenges after their sheriff and undersheriff were both accused of taking money during a traffic stop.
Sheriff Terry Jones and Undersheriff Mykol Brookshire face federal charges and could spend up to a year in prison if convicted. Jones has now resigned from his post.
McIntosh County has a brand new 8-million dollar jail and no sheriff to operate it. It's supposed to open in July. That's why county commissioners are scrambling to find someone to run it.
"To have something like this happen, now we've got to go back and look at that again," says District Two Commissioner Tim Pendley.
It was Friday when county commissioners first learned the sheriff had resigned.
"Yeah, it was a shock," says District Three Commissioner Ronnie Layman. "Nobody expected something like that to happen."
Jones and Brookshire were detained Friday. It is alleged they stole money from an individual during a traffic stop.
"Really thought we'd be represented better," says Bridgette, a resident of Eufaula. "He's supposed to be looking out for our community, not taking from it. I would have expected something different."
Jones and Brookshire are innocent until proven guilty. But, some feel it's a black eye for other elected officials.
"Makes it look bad on all elected officials," says District One Commissioner Bob James. "I feel like it does. You're kinda guilty by association I guess."
Commissioners say they have confidence in the sheriff's department, for those stepping in and covering all the shifts. To the citizens of McIntosh County, they say they will get through it.
We spoke with U.S. Attorney Sheldon Sperling, who says we should know more details about the former sheriff in court later this week. There, Jones is expected to answer the charges against him.
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