Attorney General's News Release

May 19, 1999

Former Miller County jailer turned fugitive arrested, now in custody in Arizona

Jefferson City, Mo. — A former Miller County jailer sought by Missouri authorities on a nationwide arrest warrant was taken into custody last night in Safford, Ariz. Eric Taylor was arrested Tuesday night (May 18) by the Graham County sheriff's department on the Missouri charges.

Taylor, 23, faces three charges of acceding to corruption in connection with an investigation by state authorities into the Miller County Sheriff's Department and the Miller County jail. Taylor is one of seven defendants facing a variety of charges in the case. He is charged with taking cash payments in exchange for allowing conjugal visits between inmates and visitors.

Attorney General Jay Nixon, whose office is prosecuting the charges, said he will seek a governor's warrant to extradite Taylor, who has refused to waive extradition.

Acceding to corruption is a class D felony under Missouri law, punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine on each count. The charges against Taylor are merely accusations; as in all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until or unless proven otherwise in a court of law.

The other six defendants in the case currently are scheduled to go to trial Aug. 3.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818