Correctional officer accused of selling cell phones to Lake County jail inmates

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. — Charges have been filed against a Lake County, Indiana, correctional officer accused of trafficking cell phones to inmates at the county jail.

According to Lake County Sheriff's deputies, John Hoch, 56, was taken into custody after a warrant was issued for his arrest Friday following a months-long investigation.

Authorities say Hoch, a Dyer resident, faces Level 5 felony trafficking and Level 6 official misconduct charges.

Deputies say Hoch was allegedly involved in a scheme to traffic cell phones and possibly other contraband to inmates at the Lake County Jail.

Hoch had worked at the prison for three and a half years and the investigation had been going on for several months, according to deputies.

“The Sheriff’s Department takes traffic in the jail seriously. This type of illegal scheme represents a blatant violation of the standards and ethics upheld in our facility by the men and women who work tirelessly to maintain the safety and security of inmates and employees. It is important to emphasize that although this is an unfortunate situation, this case does not reflect poorly on the dedication and professionalism demonstrated every day by the majority of our correctional staff. The actions of this individual should not undermine or overshadow the integrity and commitment of our team,” Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said in a Facebook post Saturday afternoon.

Deputies say they are still investigating several factors surrounding the case, including how many people may have been involved in the alleged scheme.