Lake Charles, Louisiana - A Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office deputy was arrested and charged with malfeasance in office and contraband in penal institutions prohibited after an investigation revealed he was smuggling contraband into the Calcasieu Correctional Center in exchange for payments.

Deputy Christopher T. Ryan, 28, of Lake Charles, Louisiana was taken into custody on August 13 after detectives received a tip about a deputy bringing contraband into the facility. The investigation, led by Combined Anti-Drug Task Force (C.A.T. Team) Detective Sabrina Hays, found that Ryan was indeed smuggling contraband into the center and receiving payments in exchange.

Ryan, who worked as a correctional deputy and had been with the department for one year, was terminated by Sheriff Stitch Guillory following his arrest. He was booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and held on a $150,000 bond set by Judge Tony Fazzio.

Sheriff Guillory emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, "We take accusations such as this extremely serious and acted swiftly, beginning an investigation, in response to the tip we received. As sheriff, it is my duty to uphold the highest standards of integrity within our department. When a deputy betrays the trust of this office and the community by engaging in criminal activity, there is no room for leniency."

The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact nature of the contraband introduced into the facility and to ensure that no other individuals are involved. Sheriff Guillory reiterated that his office will not tolerate any actions that compromise the safety and security of the facility, staff, or the public.

An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.