by | Published
HALLETTSVILLE, Texas - A Yoakum man on parole has been arrested on felony charges as authorities continue investigating the introduction of drugs and other contraband into the Lavaca County Jail.
The Lavaca County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of Keith Paul Woods on charges of Prohibited Substance in a Correctional Facility and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity.
According to investigators, Woods was taken into custody at the Lavaca County Sheriff's Office after leaving the facility following a visit with an inmate housed in the Lavaca County Jail.
The arrest was made under felony warrants issued by a Lavaca County Justice of the Peace as part of an ongoing investigation into contraband being brought into the jail.
During the arrest, investigators seized multiple cellular telephones. The Sheriff's Office said the devices will undergo forensic examinations after court-authorized search warrants are executed.
Authorities said Woods is currently on parole from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where he had been serving a sentence for previous felony convictions.
The investigation began in June 2026 after narcotics were discovered during a routine cell inspection inside the Lavaca County Jail. Since then, investigators have been working to determine how the contraband entered the facility and identify everyone involved.
The Lavaca County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation in partnership with the Texas Rangers, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations.
Sheriff Steven E. Greenwell said introducing drugs and other contraband into a correctional facility poses a serious threat to staff, inmates and the criminal justice system.
"The introduction of illegal drugs and other contraband into our jail is a direct threat to the safety of our detention officers, inmates, and the integrity of our criminal justice system," Greenwell said. "When we identify criminal activity, whether it occurs in our communities or inside the walls of our jail, we will investigate it thoroughly, identify those responsible, and pursue criminal charges wherever the evidence leads."
Greenwell added that the Sheriff's Office remains committed to aggressive drug enforcement, transparency and protecting the residents of Lavaca County.
Authorities emphasized that the investigation remains active and ongoing. Additional arrests and criminal charges are expected as investigators continue to determine the full scope of the alleged criminal operation.
