New jail contraband charges
Former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles faces new jail contraband charges
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Former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles is facing two new felony charges after jail staff found suspected synthetic marijuana in his cell, according to KOLD. Tuscaloosa County Jail agents discovered 37 grams of drug-soaked paper hidden in Miles' legal documents on September 2, 2026. He now faces charges for second-degree promoting prison contraband and failure to affix a tax stamp. Bond was set at $2,500 for each charge, though Miles remains jailed without bond while awaiting trial on a capital murder charge in the January 2023 shooting death of 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris.
Miles' capital murder trial was originally scheduled for December 1, 2025, but has been delayed. In October 2025, his attorneys filed a motion asking the judge to recuse himself, claiming bias in the case. The judge denied that request, and the case is now pending review by the Alabama Supreme Court, according to WDAM. Miles has been held at the Tuscaloosa County Jail since January 2023.
How Contraband Was Found in Prison Documents
Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office agents discovered the drug-soaked paper during a September 2, 2026 search of the jail, according to KBNG. The material was hidden inside a bag containing Miles' legal papers. Agents field-tested the substance and confirmed it was suspected synthetic marijuana, sometimes called "Paper Route" on the street. The discovery led to formal charges being filed four days later on September 4, 2026.
The Capital Murder Case Still Waiting for Trial
Miles was arrested in January 2023 after the shooting death of Harris on Tuscaloosa's "The Strip" entertainment district. Prosecutors say Miles gave his legally owned gun to co-defendant Michael "Buzz" Davis during a dispute. Davis was convicted of capital murder in May 2025 and sentenced to life without parole, according to 1011now. Miles has maintained his innocence and denies he intended to cause Harris's death.
The trial has stalled because of a legal battle over the judge. In October 2025, Miles' defense attorney Mary Turner filed a motion asking Circuit Judge Daniel Pruet to step down. Turner claimed the judge showed bias against Miles during earlier court hearings. Judge Pruet denied the recusal request in late October. The case is now paused while the Alabama Supreme Court reviews whether the judge should be removed, according to Atlanta News First.
New Charges Add Legal Pressure While Trial Stalls
The contraband charges create additional felonies on Miles' record during an already uncertain legal situation. A second-degree promoting prison contraband charge is a Class C felony under Alabama law. The drug tax stamp violation adds another felony count. Each charge carries a $2,500 bond, though WKYT notes that bail amounts are largely academic since Miles remains locked up without bond on the capital murder case.
Prosecutors often use drug tax stamp violations as additional charges to increase pressure on defendants during plea negotiations. However, discoveries of contraband inside correctional facilities during an inmate's detention are relatively uncommon. Miles has been confined at Tuscaloosa County Jail for nearly four years while waiting for his trial to proceed, according to WBBJ.
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