LITTLE ROCK — The Miller County jail warden whose tenure included at least a dozen escapes and several arrests of guards accused of sexual abuse and corruption has been stripped of her duties and reassigned under the new sheriff.
Plans were for Janice Nicholson to become a dispatcher effective Thursday, said Sheriff Ron Stovall, who took office Thursday.
Nicholson, a jail employee of 16 years, was among six employees Stovall indicated he's immediately moving into different jobs.
She expressed relief.
"I didn't ask to become warden," Nicholson said Wednesday. "I was kind of assigned it."
Former Sheriff Linda Rambopromoted Nicholson to oversee the Texarkana lockup after taking office in 2006.
Rambo, who resigned last year amid an investigation into the use of a county truck, was widely criticized for the jail's troubles. County officials blamed her for the deteriorating facilities that contributed to escapes and questioned her leniency with inmates, such as trips outside for cigarette breaks.
Nicholson said she feels that there was nothing she could havedone to prevent the problems. Inmates were repeatedly found with contraband such as drugs, cell phones and even a hacksaw.
"I think we just didn't have enough employees," she said, noting that she is hopeful that Stovall's team will turn things around and persuade the Quorum Court to fund more positions.
Nicholson echoed other county employees who are putting their confidence in Stovall, a retired Arkansas State Police captain who vows to implement sweeping changes.
"I think it's going to be wonderful," she said. "I'm lookingforward to working with him."
Stovall is bringing in a team of retirees from state, federal and local agencies for top management jobs, many of which remained vacant during Rambo's term.
He hired Charles Neff, a retired federal prison guard, to run the beleaguered jail.
"I feel very fortunate to have these people with these qualifications to be part of this rebuilding program we're involved in," Stovall said.
Don Thornell, who has acted as sheriff since Rambo resigned in October, will return to his duties as an investigator.
Arkansas, Pages 11, 18 on 01/02/2009