Ex-guard charged with drug possession, sexual misconduct

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CHESTER (AP) - A South Carolina prison guard who was fired Sept. 27 has now been arrested on charges of drug possession and sexual misconduct with an inmate.

The Herald reported 23-year-old Justin Jamar Bates has been booked into the Chester County jail where he used to work. He was arrested Friday on the drug charge. An incident report said authorities responding to a possible overdose reported by Bates found him to be in possession of fentanyl. He posted bail and was free when state authorities arrested him on misconduct charges Monday.

Sheriff Max Dorsey says the state investigation began last month. He declined to provide further details, saying state authorities are handling the misconduct investigation. The sheriff says Bates had been a detention officer since 2017.