Man arrested by Feds is former prison sergeant
The Yuma man arrested on Wednesday after special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) served a search warrant at his residence made his initial appearance in Yuma Justice Court Thursday afternoon.
Jay Brill, who according to court records had been a sergeant at the Arizona State Prison Complex — Yuma in San Luis, was taken into custody by the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force on state drug and gun charges.
Court records also indicated special agents found 0.2 grams of methamphetamine and six weapons during the execution of the search warrant of his residence on Wednesday. The weapons were a .22 caliber pistol, a Smith and Wesson .42 caliber pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun and three automatic rifles.
During the hearing, Judge Juan M. Guerrero of JP District 2, who was filling in for Judge Gregory Stewart of JP District 1, informed the 45-yearold Brill he was being held on charges of possession of dangerous drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession or use of a weapon in a drug offense.
“I did review the probable cause statement and determined there is probable cause for your arrest,” Guerrero explained.
Guerrero also told Brill that the county attorney’s office had two days to determine whether to file a criminal complaint against him, charging him with any of the offenses.
He then explained to Brill if no criminal complaint was filed against him, he would be released. If a complaint was filed, however, he would be provided with a copy of it when he returned to court in four days for his arraignment.
Attorney Jerry Hernandez of the Yuma County Public Defender’s Office, who was representing Brill for the purpose of the hearing only, asked the court impose a $5,000 bond on his client, a request the judge later granted.
Hernandez had argued none of the charges pending against Brill were prison mandatory offenses, that he had a long-time residence in Yuma, and up until his arrest he had been gainfully employed.
Guerrero also appointed the Yuma County Public Defender’s Office to represent Brill, who told his attorney during the hearing he had resigned from the Arizona Department of Corrections, where he had worked for 19 years, earlier in the day.
Brill could still face potential federal charges stemming from a federal investigation, which was the basis for Wednesday’s search warrant at his residence,
which is located in the 1000 block of E. 26th Street.
A spokesperson for the agency has declined to say why Brill is under federal investigation.
Brill is scheduled to return to Yuma Justice Court at 1 p.m. Monday for his arraignment.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 5396854. Find him on Facebook at www. Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.