Jamel Barnes, a 22-year-old man from Augusta, was arrested near Washington State Prison in Davisboro, Georgia, on April 2, 2025, after being caught attempting to smuggle contraband into the facility. Deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, along with a Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) K9 unit, responded to reports of a suspicious person near the prison.
At around 11:41 a.m., Barnes was spotted carrying bags near the facility. Law enforcement quickly converged on the area, and at 12:05 p.m., Barnes was apprehended in a nearby field east of the prison.
Barnes now faces a series of charges, including three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, providing prohibited items to inmates, trading with inmates without authorization, criminal trespass, and giving a false name.
Sheriff Joel Cochran commended the swift and coordinated effort between local deputies and the GDC K9 team. “This collaboration will continue, and we want those with illegal intentions to understand that Washington County is not the place for their activities,” Cochran warned.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office released an image of the contraband Barnes was attempting to smuggle, underscoring the seriousness of the crime.
