A St. Mary’s County correctional officer has been indicted on felony theft and misconduct in office charges for allegedly stealing more than $3,600 in cash from a detainee’s personal belongings while conducting an official inventory search at the county detention center.
Dayvon West, who has worked as a Correctional Officer at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center since May 2023 after earlier service from March 2020 to July 2022, was charged following a grand jury indictment returned June 22, 2026, and filed in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court.
According to the indictment, on February 28, 2026, at approximately 8:15 p.m., a woman identified only as Victim 1 was arrested by a St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office deputy. She was carrying a purse containing an envelope with roughly $3,640 in cash. A deputy transported her and her belongings to the SMCDRC, arriving around 9:15 p.m. The cash remained in her purse at that time.
West was on duty that evening and responsible for the intake and booking process, which includes searching detainees and conducting a detailed inventory of their personal property. Between approximately 10:19 p.m. and 10:21 p.m., while searching Victim 1’s purse, West allegedly removed the envelope containing the cash without her consent. His shift ended around 11 p.m., and he left the facility without returning the money, the charging document states.
The following morning, beginning around 1:16 a.m. on March 1, 2026, West allegedly used his cellphone to search for bank locations. Later that day he deposited $2,000 in cash into his Navy Federal Credit Union account at an ATM in St. Mary’s County. He then made a rental payment of $1,878.48 to his apartment complex — an amount the indictment notes he would not have had sufficient funds to cover without the cash deposit.
The two-count indictment charges West with misconduct in office under Maryland common law and theft over $1,500 under Criminal Law Article § 7-104. The misconduct count alleges that West, acting in his official capacity as a correctional officer responsible for inventorying a detainee’s belongings, corruptly stole the funds in violation and perversion of his duties. The theft count alleges he stole cash valued at $3,640.
Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard III, whose office led the investigation in conjunction with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, stressed the breach of trust involved. “Correctional officers are entrusted with significant authority and responsibility, including the duty to safeguard the property and rights of individuals in their custody,” Howard said. “That trust is essential to the integrity of our criminal justice system. Our office will continue to work to ensure those who abuse their positions of trust are held accountable for their actions.”
St. Mary’s County Sheriff Steve Hall also condemned the alleged conduct. “Theft by any employee of this agency is a serious betrayal of public trust and will not be tolerated,” Hall said. “Our badge does not shield anyone from accountability. When the evidence establishes probable cause that an employee has committed a crime, we will act decisively, support the criminal justice process, and hold that individual accountable under the law.”
The investigation began after Victim 1 reported the missing cash when her property was returned following her release from the detention center. In accordance with agency policy, the Sheriff’s Office Office of Professional Responsibilities opened a concurrent administrative investigation. West was suspended with pay and later had his pay stopped after being served with the felony charge, consistent with Maryland law.
Correctional officers at the SMCDRC perform critical functions that directly affect both facility security and the rights of individuals in custody. The booking and inventory process requires careful documentation and secure handling of personal items, including currency, to protect detainees from loss and to maintain accurate records. Allegations that an officer entrusted with this responsibility instead took the money strike at the core of that duty.
The Maryland State Prosecutor’s Office is an independent statewide agency responsible for investigating and prosecuting public corruption, official misconduct, and related offenses. Howard, appointed in 2019, has emphasized aggressive pursuit of cases involving abuse of public positions.
If convicted on the theft charge, West faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The common-law misconduct in office charge carries penalties determined by the court. West is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is scheduled for further proceedings in St. Mary’s County Circuit Court. It serves as a reminder that employees of local law enforcement and corrections agencies operate under strict standards of conduct precisely because they exercise authority over people who are particularly vulnerable while in custody.
