S.C. correctional officer from North Augusta arrested and fired

A North Augusta woman working as a correctional officer at the Trenton Correctional Institution in Edgefield was arrested and fired Friday on drug and contraband charges.

Kembria Merriweather, 24, was charged with distribution of methamphetamine, providing contraband to an inmate and misconduct in office. According to arrest warrants, Merriweather took three cellphones, two chargers and eight grams of methamphetamine to an inmate she was starting to initiate an intimate relationship with.

She received $2,000 for two of the three cellphones and was awaiting payment for the third phone and the meth. According to an arrest warrant, Merriweather gave a written and verbal confession.

She distributed the eight grams of meth to the inmate about Dec. 27. After the inmate was found with the meth, he was taken to lockup. According to the South Carolina Department of Corrections, Merriweather was fired after her arrest and the investigation is ongoing.

She is being held at the Edgefield County Jail.