December 2023

On December 7, 2023 Officers with the Corning Police Department were dispatched to an address on Harb Street in Corning for a female passed out in a vehicle. Upon making contact with a female in the vehicle officers learned that the sole occupant was Ashley Lewis. While standing outside of the vehicle officers could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, the officers then had Ms. Lewis step out the vehicle where they recovered a glass container containing a small amount of marijuana. After learning that Ms. Lewis was on parole, the officers conducted a parole search on the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle officers located on the dashboard in front of the driver seat, a clear plastic baggie containing a crystal substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Also inside the vehicle the officers located a set of rolling papers used to smoke marijuana. Ms. Lewis was then transported to the Clay County Detention Center, bond was set by District Judge, Dan Stidham in the amount of $25,000.

On Thursday December 7, 2023, the Clay County Detention staff noticed Head Jailer Tammy Miller- Spears take a female inmate into a employee restroom. The female 38-year-old Ashley Lewis of Corning was in the process of being booked into the detention center. All personnel knew this was not policy or procedure. Also, part of a conversation between Tammy Miller- Spears and Ashley Lewis was overheard in the booking room over a camera with the ability to monitor verbal interactions. Tammy Miller-Spears and Ashley Lewis knew each other from both living in Corning. Immediately after these interactions, Tammy Miller-Spears clocked out and left the deten- tion facility. Sheriff’s Department personnel reviewed the camera footage and audio and then notified the Corning Police Department of what was suspected to have had occurred at the detention center. The Corning Police Department went out east on US 62 and made a traffic stop on Mrs. Miller-Spears for doing 71 in a 45 MPH speed zone coming into Corning. Consent to search was asked for and granted. A substance that tested positive to be methamphetamine was found in the vehicle. 55-year-old Tammy Miller-Spears was taken into custody by the Corning Police Department for Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was then transported to the Corning Police Department then the Clay County Detention Center. A probable cause hearing was held in Corning on Friday, December 8, in front of Circuit Judge Charles Moody where he set a $20,000 bond. Mrs. Miller-Spears was also terminated as Head Jailer of the Clay County Detention Center.