A Mississippi man who attempted to sneak a cellphone into jail in an unusual hiding place will now spend the next 15 years behind bars after a jury quickly found him guilty of possessing contraband inside a correctional facility.
On March 3, 2026, Fabian Chapman was sentenced in Warren County Circuit Court in Vicksburg after prosecutors said a cellphone was discovered concealed in his buttocks during a routine intake search at the Warren County Jail.
Authorities said the incident began in September 2025 when Chapman was arrested on allegations he stole more than $1,000 worth of merchandise from a Walmart in Vicksburg. Following the arrest, he was transported to the Warren County Jail for booking.
During the standard intake procedure, correctional officers conducted a search and instructed Chapman to turn around as part of the process. According to testimony presented in court, Chapman initially refused to comply with the officers’ instructions. Investigators said he eventually followed directions and squatted, which is when officers noticed a cellphone concealed in his buttocks.
The device was recovered and Chapman was charged with bringing contraband into a correctional facility — a felony offense under Mississippi law.
The case went to trial earlier this year, and on Feb. 2, 2026, a jury deliberated for less than 20 minutes before returning a guilty verdict.
Prosecutors argued that Chapman’s extensive criminal history justified a significant sentence. According to court testimony, Chapman had been arrested roughly 20 times on felony charges in other jurisdictions and at least 15 times on misdemeanor charges.
Assistant District Attorney Branan Southerland asked the court to impose a 15-year sentence to be served day-for-day because Chapman qualified as a habitual offender.
Circuit Judge James Chaney granted the request, sentencing Chapman to 15 years in prison without eligibility for early release.
Officials say the case highlights the security risks contraband devices pose inside correctional facilities, where cellphones can be used to coordinate criminal activity or bypass monitored communication systems.
