Inmates, former correctional officer charged after teen dies in jail cell
The teen died of acute fentanyl toxicity after being found unresponsive in his jail cell in September 2023.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Metro Nashville police have announced the arrests of several people including inmates and a former Davidson County correctional officer in the death of a teen in the county jail.
Police said its years-long investigation led to the indictment of a group of people who are accused on multiple criminal counts, including conspiracy to commit second-degree murder.
The investigation began after an autopsy revealed that 18-year-old Daniel Prisco died of acute fentanyl toxicity. Prisco was found unresponsive in his cell at the Harding Place facility on Sept. 19, 2023.
He was under indictment and awaiting court proceedings on two counts of felony aggravated assault and two counts of felony reckless endangerment at the time of his death.
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Through their investigation, MNPD discovered a network of inmates and two others who conspired to introduce drugs into the jail system and distribute them. One of the inmates, 30-year-old Emmanuel Webb, who is awaiting trial on a 2023 first-degree murder indictment, is alleged to have worked with his female associate on the outside, 28-year-old Devin Popejoy, to get drugs into the jail.
“Among other things, Popejoy is alleged to have set up drug-related telephone conference calls between Webb and third parties during his jailhouse calls to her,” MNPD explained. “Webb is charged in the new indictment with conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, engaging in a fentanyl delivery conspiracy, two counts of conspiracy to distribute contraband in a penal institution, and two counts of fentanyl delivery. Popejoy is charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, engaging in a fentanyl delivery conspiracy, and conspiracy to distribute contraband in a penal institution.”
The duo were indicted in July on felony meth and fentanyl charges. Popejoy was free on bond in that case prior to her surrendering on the new indictment Thursday. Also indicted in Prisco’s death, is former DCSO correctional officer Charles Kelley, 23, who is facing charges of conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, engaging in a fentanyl delivery conspiracy, fentanyl delivery, conspiracy to deliver contraband into a penal facility, and delivering contraband.
Kelley was arrested on Masonwood Drive Thursday night. He was employed by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office at the time of his arrest.
“Metro Nashville Police Department issued a news release today about the arrest of several people Thursday in a case involving the death of a Davidson County inmate. One suspect, Charles Kelley, was charged. He was employed as a correctional officer since February at the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office but was terminated immediately Thursday night,” RCSO said.
Other current inmates are also facing charges, William Sigsby, 28, and Joshua Young, 38. Both are charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, engaging in a fentanyl conspiracy, fentanyl delivery, delivering contraband, and conspiracy to introduce contraband into a penal facility.
Matthew Calhoun, 27, a former Davidson County inmate who is now being housed at the Bledsoe County Correctional Facility, is also charged in Prisco’s death with conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, engaging in a fentanyl conspiracy, and conspiracy to distribute contraband in a penal institution.
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