Inmates’ self-destructive actions frustrating, costly to Sheriff’s Office

An inmate who swallowed a razor blade while in custody of the Sequoyah County Jail may end up costing the county over $200,000 in hospital bills, according to Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane Jr.

In addition, the maiming incident may not be the first for Charles L. Woolsey, 35, of Vian, a convicted sex offender with repeated offenses. Woolsey reportedly claimed to have swallowed a bunch of pills and a razor blade when he was arrested by Sequoyah County deputies at a residence near Gore in May 2019. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment following the incident and taken into custody after being cleared by medical staff.

Lane said Woolsey, who is being held for Arkansas, has been hospitalized for the past 11 days for swallowing a razor blade which also led to resignations from two of his jail staff who preferred to be with their families during the Christmas holidays.

Since Woolsey is still in the hospital, Lane said a couple of deputies will have to pull guard duty during the upcoming New Year’s weekend. “I don’t blame the jailers for quitting. Everyone would rather be with their families than to have to guard an inmate but it is something that is done with every inmate who is hospitalized or has to be taken to the hospital,” Lane said.

In addition, Lane said with the length of time Woolsey is hospitalized, it could possibly run the medical bills up to $300,000, possibly more and the county is responsible for the debt.

Woolsey is not the first to cause the county a lot of money in hospital bills, Lane said. Last year an inmate had to be hospitalized accumulating about $500,000 in hospital bills.

“It’s something all jails deal with,” Lane said. “We all have to pay.”

Lane said he and sheriffs from other counties have approached state legislators to come up with an alternative to save counties money. He said the Cherokee Nation will not pay for the inmates’ bills while they are in custody, only if they are sentenced.

Lane said the issue of inmate hospitalization is a burden on the jail’s finances because inmates who are arrested can get free medical care from the jail.

“It sucks. A person can go and break the law and if they have medical issues, they can go sit in the hospital. It happens all the time,” he said. “Once they’re arrested, the first thing they do is complain about a toothache or some other medical issue they may need medical attention for.”

Sequoyah County Commissioner Jim Rogers said the issue is a financial burden on the county.

“According to state statutes, if it’s not a pre-existing medical issue, the county is responsible for the inmate’s medical costs,” he said.

“It’s something we’ve talked to our state legislators about but it has something to do with violating their civil rights. The inmate is in our jail for not abiding by our laws and is transported to the hospital for a self-inflicted medical issue and we end up having to pay for his medical bills. I’m not happy with it.”