Nashville jail officials arrested after inmates say labor exploited

FILE - In this Aug. 14, 2015 file photo, Larry Stephney holds a piece of wood with the number 412148 written on it that is from a product made while he was an inmate at a privately run prison in Nashville, Tenn. The number refers to a section of Tennessee code that makes it illegal for jail officials to require an inmate to perform labor that results in the official’s personal gain. Stephney says inmates were required to build plaques, birdhouses, dog beds and cornhole games for officials who sold the items through an online business and at a local flea market. Two Nashville jail employees and one former employee are charged with official misconduct, accused of pocketing money from the sale of inmate-made wooden plaques and games. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File) FILE - In this Aug. 14, 2015 file photo, Larry Stephney holds a piece of wood with the number 412148 written on it that is from a product made while he was an inmate at a privately run prison in Nashville, Tenn. The number refers to a section of Tennessee code that makes it illegal for jail officials to require an inmate to perform labor that results in the official’s personal gain. Stephney says inmates were required to build plaques, birdhouses, dog beds and cornhole games for officials who sold the items through an online business and at a local flea market. Two Nashville jail employees and one former employee are charged with official misconduct, accused of pocketing money from the sale of inmate-made wooden plaques and games. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

By Associated Press September 16, 2015 2 min read

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Three Nashville jail employees – two current and one former – are accused of pocketing money from the sale of inmate-made products through a personal business they marketed as a “Christian-based organization.”

Robert Hill, Stephen Binkley and Roy Napper were arrested Tuesday on charges of official misconduct and inmate labor violation, according to The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Former inmates Larry Stephney and Charles Brew say they spent their days at the Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility building bean-bag games, plaques shaped like footballs, birdhouses and dog beds for the trio. They say they worked for no pay in the jail’s building trades department where they were supposed to be serving as tutors to other students.

Hill, Binkley and Napper are accused of selling the inmate-made products through their business, Stand Firm Designs, between December 2014 and June 2015.

The Stand Firm Designs website alludes to the company name with a Bible quote on the home page, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” The company’s logo is its initials inside a Christian fish symbol.