The mother of an inmate at the Franklin County Jail said Monday night that they were disgusted with allegations that two sheriff's deputies tampered with her son's food.
Deputies Joseph Cantwell and Phillip Barnett are the focus of a criminal investigation, 10TV's Glenn McEntyre reported. Both were reassigned to the control center where they will have no contact with inmates.
According to sources at the jail, after enlisting an inmate to touch a sandwich with his genitalia, the deputies fed the sandwich to another inmate.
Sources also said that the deputies used a cell phone to take pictures of the incident, 10TV News reported.
The inmate's mother, who requested anonymity, called the incident disgusting.
"I really don't like to talk about it because it upsets me so," the woman said. "How could anybody do something like that to a human being?"
The woman admitted her son is no angel but said he is paying the price for his mistakes.
She said that the people running the jail should be held to the same standard.
"I think those guards should be punished," the woman said. "They shouldn't even be working there, really."
The Fraternal Order of Police told 10TV News that the union is aware of the situation but is not representing the deputies.
Both Cantwell and Barnett have hired private attorneys, McEntyre reported.
10TV News reached one of the attorneys on Monday night but he declined comment.
Stay with 10TV News and 10TV.com for additional information.
Previous Story:
March 23, 2009: Sheriff's Office Probes Food Tampering Allegation
