CHESAPEAKE
A 25-year-old St. Brides Correctional Center inmate was sentenced to four months for trying to bribe two prison officers earlier this year.
Ziman Parker offered guards at the state prison in southern Chesapeake money to overlook his attempts to mail two letters from the prison, each containing $100 bills. Asked how he obtained the money, Parker told prison officials, "Check your staff," according to court discovery records.
Parker entered Alford pleas to two counts of bribery, felonies carrying a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison for each count. In return for Parker's pleas, the state recommended a lower sentence.
Circuit Judge Marjorie T. Arrington sentenced Parker to six years, with five years and eight months suspended.
On Jan. 22, Parker was caught trying to mail two letters from the jail containing the large bills. Two correctional officers at the prison confronted Parker about the letters and the money in them.
"Parker replied by stating that was no money at all and referred to it as 'chump change,' " according to a stipulated statement of facts in the case. Parker then
looked at one prison official and stated, "How much money do you want to make this go away?"
The officer said he could not be bought. Parker made another offer to another prison guard, who also declined the bribe, according to court records.
Prison officials attempted to determine how Parker received the cash while behind bars. He refused to reveal any names.
"Parker responded that the officer should be looking at the security staff," according to court records.
John Hopkins, (757) 222-5221, john.hopkins@pilotonline.com
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