A Wilcox County correctional officer is facing drug-related charges after reportedly attempting to enter the jail with contraband.

Richard Bender, with the Wilcox County Sheriff’s Office, was arrested Tuesday and charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana. He is currently in Clarke County Jail under bonds totaling $100,000.

“He’s somebody with a position of trust, and he clearly violated that,” District Attorney Michael Jackson said. “This, again, goes to show that it doesn’t matter who you are. If you commit a crime, you’re going to have to do the time.”

Wilcox County Sheriff Earnest Evans had suspicion that Bender was entering the facility with drugs and coordinated with the 4th Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force to investigate, Jackson said.

After collecting a substantial amount of evidence, the drug task force was stationed Tuesday at the Prince Arnold Detention Center prepared to make the arrest.

Bender was about to leave his vehicle and enter the jail with marijuana and pills wrapped in tobacco when the 4th Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force made the arrest, Jackson said.

“[Bender] went ahead and admitted he had these drugs all on him and was about to take them in jail,” Jackson said.

Both charges are Class C felonies and can lead to up to 10 years in prison, Jackson said.

The Selma Times-Journal’s attempts to reach Evans for comment were unsuccessful Thursday.