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A Suffolk woman appointed as a deputy with the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office in July was fired Monday, Sept. 4, and arrested the same day on felony and misdemeanor charges related to conveying items to a prisoner, including a cellphone. 

A Tuesday, Sept. 5, news release from the sheriff’s office stated that on Sept. 4, Southampton County deputies arrested Katie Renay McCann, 34, of Suffolk, on multiple warrants.  The release stated that McCann received one charge of felony 18.2-431.1 — illegal conveyance of a cellular phone to a prisoner; one charge of felony 18.2-22/18.2-431.1 — conspiracy of illegal conveyance of a cellular phone to a prisoner; and three charges of misdemeanor 18.2-474 — delivery of articles to prisoners or committed persons.  Noting that McCann was a Southampton County deputy sheriff, the release stated that she was appointed to that role on July 3, and at the time of her termination from the position on Sept. 4, she was assigned to the Detention Division.  

The sheriff’s office received information about potential policy and criminal violations on Saturday, Sept. 3, and immediately began investigating those allegations, the release stated, adding that this investigation led to the eventual issuance of warrants and the arrest of McCann.    Police said she was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond on Sept. 4, and her first scheduled court appearance is on Friday, Sept. 8, at 9 a.m. for arraignment in Southampton General District Court. “The poor decisions of one deputy do not reflect the high standards set forth by the agency as a whole,” Southampton County Sheriff Josh A. Wyche Sr. said. “I am proud of the men and women who show up each day and represent this agency with their professionalism and dedication.”