Former Rutherford County Jailer Accused of Extortion

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Suspect Jessica Lehew, 31, of Murfreesboro.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP)/WMOT — Rutherford County authorities have arrested a fired jailer on a felony extortion charge. Jessica Lehew (LAY'-hew) is accused of threatening Sheriff Robert Arnold with the release of embarrassing information.

Arnold called a press conference yesterday to say Lehew sent him emails stating she had damaging information about her former husband, Sheriff’s Deputy Will Lehew, and would send that information to a local reporter if Arnold didn’t reinstate her.<?xml:namespace prefix = o />

Here’s what the Sheriff had to say during yesterday’s press conference.

“Take me out of it, just the office of Sheriff…for someone to try to blackmail a Sheriff for any reason is to me just dumb.”

Sheriff Arnold says Lehew's claims about her ex-husband, Will Lehew, aren’t true.

District Attorney General William Whitesell (WHYT'-sel) says a plea bargain for a misdemeanor charge is possible in the case. Lehew is free on bond.