BEDFORD – A homeless man already in custody at the Lawrence County Security Center is facing several new criminal charges after surveillance footage allegedly caught him attempting to discard a bag of narcotics during the jail’s booking process.
Toby Livingston, 36, has been charged with multiple offenses, including trafficking with an inmate and possession of methamphetamine, following the discovery of contraband near a jail body scanner.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Sgt. R. Compton of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, the incident began on March 4, 2026, when a jail officer located a small black bag sitting beside the facility’s body scanner. Upon picking up the bag, the officer reported hearing the sound of glass rattling.
Inside the bag, authorities discovered:
- A glass smoking pipe containing a white residue.
- A second, broken glass smoking pipe.
- A rolled cigarette containing a green leafy substance.
Field tests conducted on the items returned positive results for methamphetamine and marijuana.
Sgt. Compton and Sgt. Mundy reviewed surveillance footage from the scanner room, timestamped approximately 5:54 p.m. on March 3. The video allegedly shows Livingston entering the room to be changed into jail clothing.
According to the affidavit, while Livingston was standing on the body scanner platform and the jailer’s back was turned, he reached into his uniform, removed the black bag, and discarded it behind his back onto the floor.
When confronted with the evidence, Livingston was read his Miranda rights but denied any knowledge of the bag. Even after being informed that his actions were captured on high-definition surveillance video, Livingston maintained that he had never seen the bag before.
Livingston now faces the following preliminary charges of trafficking with an inmate, possession of meth, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
In Indiana, the charge of trafficking with an inmate is not limited to outside civilians bringing items into a facility; it also applies to inmates who intentionally possess or move “controlled substances” or “deadly weapons” into or within the secure perimeter of a jail or prison. Because the narcotics were brought past the initial intake point, the felony enhancement was applied.
Livingston remains at the Lawrence County Security Center awaiting a court appearance. All items recovered from the scanner room have been processed as evidence.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the probable cause affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
