A jail inmate entrusted to clean up the Carson City Sheriff's Department's administrative building, allegedly helped himself to a department cell phone and rang up a $172 bill.
Scott Douglas Hudson, 36, was serving a 10-month sentence on a probation violation when he was assigned in November as a trusty and given freedom to walk about the jail property doing tasks such as washing patrol cars or emptying office trash.
According to Sheriff Kenny Furlong, on Jan. 13, a civil employee noticed Hudson standing outside the administrative building talking on a cell phone. She mentioned the behavior to Furlong who sent a jail sergeant to talk to Hudson.
Hudson allegedly told the officer his wife had give him the phone, dropping it over a fence for him.
The phone was booked into evidence and Hudson's privileges were revoked.
On Wednesday, Kathy Heath, business manager for the office was looking over cell phone charges for which the department was responsible and she noticed a phone that had only been used for about 30 days between December and January. She got the bill, called a number from the bill and Hudson's wife was on the other end.
The phone in evidence was retrieved and it was discovered to be a department phone. The deputy recovered the phone's charger from an office the trusties use in the old jail.
"We think he took it out of the volunteer office," Furlong said.
Rather than pay connection charges, the department will keep dormant phones active, Heath said.
The phone in question hadn't been used or assigned to anyone in the department since before December.
According to the arrest report, a total of 617 calls were made to the same number Hudson allegedly called from the jail pay phone.
Hudson was additionally booked on obtaining money under false pretenses, interference with a peace officer and possession of stolen property.
When his 10-month sentence expires April 28, Hudson will have to post $25,000 bail before he can be released from jail.
• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.