UPDATE: Charges dismissed against former Boyd Jailer

Charges against former Boyd County Jailer Joe Burchett have been dismissed.

Burchett was indicted in December of 2017 on criminal malfeasance charges after a series of issues at the jail including escapes, overdoses, and a riot.

The jailer resigned from the position in December of 2018, days after two inmates died at the facility, including one death that lead to the indictment of five jail deputies for manslaughter.

After Burchett resigned, court documents say the acting Boyd County attorney, Dan King, met with the Boyd County fiscal court and determined there was no objection to the Commonwealth dismissing the charge.

The case had previously been moved to Rowan County and a special prosecutor dismissed the charge.

When Burchett was originally indicted, he faced a $100 to $1,000 fine and would have been vacated from his position.

Boyd County Detention Center Jailer Joe Burchett has been indicted on a criminal malfeasance charge, and his case will now go to a trial.

The indictment was handed down on Tuesday.

According to the indictment, Burchett is charged with malfeasance or neglect of county officer.

In December, a criminal malfeasance investigation was opened against the Boyd Detention Center, according to the Boyd County Commonwealth Attorney’s office.

The investigation involved several law enforcement agencies looking in to recent incidents at the jail including escapes, overdoses and a riot that closed the jail for almost a month in August.

The investigation was announced during a Boyd County Fiscal Court meeting.

According to Assistant Commonwealth Attorney David Cathers, all district judges in Boyd County recused themselves from the case in December. That means a special judge would need to be brought in for this case.

Burchett's arraignment is set for 9 a.m. March 9 at the Boyd County Courthouse before Judge Scott Reese.

Keep checking WSAZ Mobile and WSAZ.com for the latest information.

The Boyd County Detention Center underwent a massive search after rumors about drugs and cell phones being inside.

Teams from all across the state performed a large-scale search of the facility.

The search, which included more than 60 people, allowed deputies to hit entire floors of the building at once catching inmates off guard and giving them a better chance to find contraband.

Thirty-two cells and more than 220 inmates were searched over a six-hour period.

According to the detention center, no drugs or cell phones were found.

A criminal malfeasance investigation has been opened against the Boyd Detention Center, according to the Boyd County Commonwealth Attorney’s office.

The investigation involves several law enforcement agencies who are looking in to recent incidents at the jail including escapes, overdoses and a riot that closed the jail for almost a month in August.

The investigation was announced Tuesday during a Boyd County Fiscal Court meeting.

Assistant Commonwealth Attorney David Cathers tells WSAZ the case is being prepared to be taken to a grand jury.

Cathers says it is not a quick process, but they hope to have an indictment within the next 30 days.

The charge is only a misdemeanor, and if convicted, the person would face a $100 to $1,000 fine, but no jail time.

According to Cathers, all district judges in Boyd County have recused themselves from this case should it go to trial, so a special judge would need to be brought in.

Cathers says the decision to launch the came after it got to the point where they had to do something.

Keep checking WSAZ Mobile and WSAZ.com for the latest on this story.