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Friday, June 9    |    Upstate South Carolina News, Sports and Information

Pickens wants Inman moved to state facility
Defense attorney says he sees no reason for transfer

Published: Friday, June 9, 2006 - 6:00 am


By Anna Simon
STAFF WRITER
asimon@greenvillenews.com

PICKENS - Jerry Buck Inman is in solitary confinement under security cameras, but Pickens County officials would like to move him.

Pickens County is requesting a transfer to a state Department of Corrections facility for the man charged with murder in the slaying of Clemson student Tiffany Souers, said Lt. Gary Bryant, detention center manager.

There are state facilities that are more equipped to handle high-security inmates, Bryant said.

Inman’s attorney, Greenville lawyer Symmes Culbertson, said he and Inman were served a motion to transfer when they met at the jail Thursday afternoon, but Culbertson said he sees no reason to transfer Inman to another facility.

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“He is isolated from the rest of the population. It’s a lonely situation but it’s a safe situation,” Culbertson said.

Inman was very quiet and somewhat reserved as Culbertson talked to him about what was ahead. He asked pertinent questions and took the information “fairly well,” even when Culbertson told him there’s a possibility this could be a death penalty case, the lawyer said.

Inman “understood the severity” of the situation he is in, Culbertson said.

Unlike the majority of the 107 prisoners housed in the facility at the county Law Enforcement Center, Inman is in solitary confinement in 6-foot by 8-foot concrete block cell furnished with a mattress, blanket, a small sink and a toilet.

Added security measures include two placards posted on his cell door - one noting a past history of escape attempts and the other indicating an assault risk, Bryant said.

Inman is under constant video surveillance and sat on the mattress leaning against the wall much of the day, doing nothing, Bryant said.

There’s not much for him to do and he’s had little to say, Bryant said.

Shortly after the lights came on at 6 a.m. in cells throughout the facility, a breakfast tray with crispy steak, hash browns, grits, and a cup of milk was passed through a food passage slot in the steel cell door. The only utensil he is given to eat with is a detention center-grade “spork.”

A toothbrush and toothpaste are passed through the slot in the door at appropriate times.

Around the middle of the morning, Inman was shackled and handcuffed and taken from the cell to a secure shower area by two detention officers, where he showered alone, dressed and was shackled and handcuffed again and returned to his cell, Bryant said.

Lunch consisted of a cheeseburger and chips and his choice of tea or Kool-Aid, served through the slot in the door. Salami and turkey sandwiches and cookies were on the Thursday night supper menu.

Light comes into the cell through a small unbreakable glass window in the steel cell door and a single bulb light fixture set high on the back wall of the cell. Lights stay on until 11 p.m.

While in the cell, Inman can dress as he wants, but all he has are the orange short-sleeved V-neck pullover top and the elastic-waist bottoms.

He will be moved from the cell only for scheduled showers and exercise, meetings with legal counsel, for scheduled telephone time, and business that can’t be conducted in the cell such as court appearances, Bryant said. Anytime he leaves the cell he will wear leg and arm chains and handcuffs and at least two officers will be present.

The exercise area is an empty, enclosed space about the size of an elementary school classroom, where he can walk or jog, but he will still be alone. The phone area is a cell with a telephone inside and all calls must be made collect.

A book cart occasionally makes the rounds and inmates can get books to read, passed through the door slot. A list of items available at the prison commissary, such as underwear and socks, soap and deodorant, snacks and drinks, also can be passed through the slot for him to order from.


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