Two Calhoun Correctional

officers are sentenced to

prison in separate cases

BLOUNTSTOWN, FL – Separate investigations led to two pleas last week that sent two former Calhoun Correctional Institution officers to prison, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.

Amber Tawnee Rabon, 35, of Marianna, pled to Corrections Employee Sexual Misconduct with an Inmate, two counts of Unlawful Compensation for Official Behavior, and two counts of Possession/Introduction of Contraband into a State Correctional Institution – one involving a cellphone and the other involving cigarettes.

In an unrelated case at the facility, Rhonda Lynn Jones, 59, of Grand Ridge, pled to Trafficking in Phenethylamines and Introduction of Contraband into a State Facility.

Circuit Court Judge Brandon Young Circuit Court Judge Brandon Young accepted Rabon’s plea, adjudicated the defendant guilty and sentenced her to 46 months in prison on three of the charges. On two other charges she was given 10 years’ probation, to be served after her release from prison.

Judge Young also accepted Jones’ plea and a 3-year prison sentence.

“What these two defendants were doing, while unrelated, were happening at the same facility and undermining the other employees’ ability to maintain control and order,” said Calhoun County Chief Prosecutor Joshua White. “Contraband is an ongoing problem in any prison facility and we must be able to rely on the correctional officers – most of whom are doing an outstanding job – to follow the rules and keep contraband out.

“Having sexual relationships with an inmate or smuggling in contraband is something the DOC and our offices take very seriously.”

White was prepared to call witnesses and evidence gathered by Det. William Dalton of the Office of the Inspector General, Department of Corrections, proving Amber Rabon was engaged in a sexual relationship with an inmate.

The evidence would have shown the defendant had relations with the inmate at the facility, smuggled in at least one cellphone at his request, smuggled cigarettes into the facility, and was rewarded through cash payments via CashApp – a mobile based cash transfer app. The acts took place between September 2022 and November 2023.

At least one sexual act took place in a staff bathroom while another inmate acted as a “lookout.” There also was evidence the defendant and the inmate would engage in video calls – on a contraband cell phone – during which the defendant was nude in her vehicle in the parking lot.

In the second case, White was prepared to call witnesses and present evidence by Det. Dalton to prove that Rhonda Jones tried to smuggle in two packages of Phenethylamines – commonly found in stimulants like prescription Adderall or illegal drugs like methamphetamine.

The evidence would have shown Jones was entering the facility for work on March 15, 2025, with two packages of the drug concealed in her bra. During the entry pat-down process, a Sergeant located the items wrapped in black electrical tape.

The DOC investigator said when Jones was asked to remove the two items, she said, “I am a woman of God, I don’t have anything!” She then “took two items from inside her bra and threw them under the sink … .” They were retrieved and found to contain drugs.

Basford thanked the Department of Corrections and Office of the Inspector General for its thorough investigation that led to pleas in the case.

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