Former P.E.I. jail guard sentenced to 2 years in prison

A former P.E.I. jail guard who smuggled a cellphone, tobacco and marijuanainto the provincial jail hasbeen sentenced totwo years in a federal prison after pleading guilty to breach of trust.

James Tutton, 39, of Brackley, P.E.I., admitted he smuggled the contraband into the jail for an inmate.

The phone was used by a prisoner to make threatening calls. Tutton had worked at the provincial jail for just three months.

He told the court he smuggledthe items formoney he receivedbetween $700 and $800 for his work.

"Corrections officers require direct contact with inmates and the job requires a high level of integrity. Mr. Tutton's actions resulted in a serious breach of trust," said Crown attorney Nathan Beck.

In provincial court Friday,Tuttonstood up and apologized for what he did.

Tutton's lawyer said his career in the justice system is now over.

When you put people in jail, they are not on holiday. Judge Nancy Orr

"I hope it would be," said Judge Nancy Orr.

She accepted thejoint recommendation from the Crown and defence of a two-year prison sentence.

"When you put people in jail, they are not on holiday. Their every need and desire is not accommodated," she told Tutton.

Orr said the former guard's actions undermine theintegrity of the justice system, whichguards are supposed to uphold.

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