Carroll County jailer charged with taking wife hostage

A former Carroll County School Board member being investigated for alleged theft and contraband in the county prison was in jail Tuesday night, charged in a hostage-taking incident involving his wife, Channel 2 Action News reports.

Mike Huckeba, who also was a Carroll County corrections officer until he was fired Tuesday, is charged with nine offenses, including aggravated assault, false imprisonment, influencing a witness and violating his oath, authorities said.

Carroll County Sheriff’s deputies said they believe Huckeba became angry with his wife because she was helping the county investigate him for theft – stealing gasoline from county pumps -- and smuggling contraband, such as tobacco and cell phones, into the Carroll County Prison where he worked.

"When they go into those jobs at the prison, they all understand you don't do this kind of thing -- you just don't, or else you'll be on the other side of the bars,” Carroll County Commission Chairman Bill Chappell told Channel 2.

Deputies responding to a 911 call Friday for a domestic incident at the couple’s home said they found Huckeba and his wife barricaded in their bedroom. Huckeba was armed, and the standoff lasted for more than an hour until an investigator convinced the husband to surrender, authorities said.

Additional charges could be filed against him related to the jail contraband allegations, sheriff’s deputies said.

"We're continuing to interview those inmates on his work crew and others that came in contact with him,” Chief Deputy Brad Robinson said. “He has admitted on one occasion of taking gasoline for his own personal use."