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Baker jail employee charged after relationship with inmate

Evelyn Rhodes is accused of providing an inmate with contraband and privileged information.
Baker County Detention Center
Evelyn Rhodes is accused of providing an inmate with contraband and privileged information.

An employee of the Baker County Detention Center has been charged with providing contraband to an inmate and disclosing confidential criminal justice information.

Evelyn Rhodes, 58, developed an “inappropriate relationship” with the inmate in the Macclenny facility, Sheriff Scotty Rhoden said.

Rhodes was arrested Friday on a felony charge of disclosing confidential criminal justice information and two misdemeanor counts of introduction of contraband into a detention facility, the Sheriff’s Office said. 

Jail inspectors learned that Rhodes, a civilian Control Room Operator, had been providing the inmate with illegal contraband. She also had passed on privileged information only accessible to staff and in direct interference with active investigations.

The Sheriff's Office did not disclose what the contraband was or what information Rhodes disclosed.

Rhoden called the arrest “disturbing and disappointing."

Dan Scanlan is a veteran journalist with almost 40 years as a radio, television and print reporter in the Jacksonville area, as well as years of broadcast work in the Northeast. You can reach Dan at dscanlan@wjct.org, (904) 607-2770 or on Twitter at @scanlan_dan.