An update from the Bell County Sheriff’s Department:
On Monday, March 6, 2023, Jailer Robin Venable charged an inmate and later a co-conspirator was charged by K-9 Sgt. Adam Southern regarding contraband. Venable stated in a citation that 44-year-old Robert Brock made an attempt to have contraband consisting of tobacco and pills dropped off on the property of the facility.
Before the package made it inside, it was recovered by jail staff and turned over to Bell county deputies. Brock admitted to Venable that he had been expecting the package to be left by 41-year-old David Janis who was taken into custody by Bell County Sgt. Frank Foster Tuesday night March 7, 2023.
David Janis was charged with promoting contraband – 1st degree. Robert Brock was charged with conspiracy to promote contraband – 1st degree.
Charged by Sgt. Southern in a separate incident was 32-year-old Michelle Irene Rye for her role in leaving drugs to be picked up at the direction of inmate Jason Dye. On January 26, 2023, while a female jail staff member was outside the detention center, she heard an alarm and looked down to see an Arby’s cup with several items inside including a cell phone, charger, and what was determined to be Suboxone.
After looking up the number in the cell phone, it was determined to be registered to Dye. It was also determined that inmate Dye along with inmate Justin Davis had conversations with Rye in regard to dropping off the items.
Once interviewed, both men admitted to being involved in the incident and that the plan was to have a trustee retrieve the items.
Dye, Davis, and Rye have been charged with Promoting Contraband – 1st degree. Rye was additionally charged with a probation violation.