CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A health care worker at the Mecklenburg County Jail is facing charges after police said she gave an inmate a cellphone.
Samara Black, 26, was arrested Monday by Mecklenburg County deputies. Investigators said Black was providing the phone to an inmate while employed with the jail's health care provider. Deputies began investigating Black's conduct after she was accused of smuggling items into the jail.
Black worked as a discharge planner for Wellpath, the jail's resident health care services provider. North Carolina law prohibits any person from selling or giving a cellphone to an inmate. Black, along with the inmate she's accused of giving the phone to, faces a Class H felony charge.
The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office did not specify who the inmate was that Black provided the cell phone.
Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Stitcher || Google Podcasts
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.
Note: WCNC instituted a new policy in March 2021 regarding the broadcast or posting of mugshots.
WCNC will only air or post a mugshot if the person has been formally charged with a crime and in a few other cases. The exceptions include: If it appears the person could be a danger to themselves or others or if they are wanted by authorities; to differentiate between people with a common name; if the photos could encourage more victims to come forward. The news-editorial leadership may also decide to use a mugshot based on the severity of the crime(s) committed and/or the level of public interest in the crime and ensuing criminal proceedings.