Drunk driver brings loaded gun into jail-Firearm found on Ewton during booking process

A drunk driver was able to bring a loaded gun into Warren County Jail, with the firearm being discovered in his pocket as he was being booked.
The drunk driver, Jackie R. Ewton, 50, entered a guilty plea to the charge of DUI this past week before General Sessions Judge Larry Ross and was ordered to serve seven days of an 11-month, 29-day sentence, pay $350 plus costs and lose his license for one year. The introduction of a firearm into the jail was dismissed but he was ordered to forfeit the handgun.
The charges were brought after Ewton was involved in an automobile accident and was taken for treatment at River Park Hospital. Following his treatment, he was placed under arrest for suspicion of drunk driving and was placed in the back of a patrol car for the short drive from the hospital to Warren County Jail. He was asked at the point of his arrest if he was carrying any type of weapon, to which he responded he was not.
Given the fact he had suffered back injuries, Ewton was not handcuffed meaning he had free movement during the patrol car ride to jail. Once inside the jail, Ewton again denied being armed. However, this time his claim was challenged as intake officers searched his person, finding a small loaded pistol in his front pants pocket.
It is not known if he had forgotten about the gun in his pocket in the excitement surrounding his wreck and arrest, or if he was afraid of getting into trouble by admitting it was on his person. Ewton did not have a conceal carry permit and even had he possessed one it would not entitle him to carry a firearm into a penal institution.
According to Sheriff Jackie Matheny, the fact a person was able to have a gun on his person going into the booking process is unusual but would not mark the first time intake personnel have found weapons and contraband inside the jail.
‘We stress to our jail staff to do a thorough search in case something was missed in the earlier search at arrest and we have found drugs and even pocket knives before,’ said Matheny, noting that while finding the gun is rare, he doubts Ewton, who he knows, was intentionally trying to slip a gun into the lockup.
‘We stress to our jail staff to do a thorough search in case something was missed…’

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