Madison County -- June 30, 2026: Madison County grand jury has indicted former Madison County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Bronis Coy Phillips, 42, on seven charges following allegations that he provided an inmate with an AR-15-style rifle, controlled substances, alcohol, tobacco products and forced the inmate to perform labor at his home while in custody.
The indictment follows Phillips' recent arrest in Maricopa County, Arizona, where he was taken into custody before being extradited to North Carolina to face the charges.
According to court documents, investigators allege Phillips used coercion and intimidation to remove an inmate from the Madison County Detention Center and force the inmate to perform work at his residence. Prosecutors also allege Phillips furnished the inmate with methamphetamine, marijuana, alcohol—including White Claw hard seltzers and Bud Light beer—and tobacco products, including cigarettes and vape pens. Authorities further allege he provided the inmate with an AR-15-style rifle while the inmate remained in custody.
The grand jury returned indictments charging Phillips with furnishing controlled substances to an inmate, furnishing a deadly weapon to an inmate, furnishing alcohol to an inmate, furnishing tobacco products to an inmate, felony involuntary servitude, and two counts of felony assault with a firearm on detention center employees. Court documents also allege Phillips pointed a handgun at two fellow correctional officers during separate incidents inside the detention facility.
The alleged offenses are reported to have occurred between July 1 and Sept. 15, 2025, according to the indictments. The investigation is being led by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation based on a finding of probable cause. It is not a determination of guilt, and Phillips is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The case has generated significant attention across Western North Carolina because of Phillips' former leadership role within the Madison County Sheriff's Office and the serious nature of the allegations involving inmates and detention center staff.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges or information could be released as the case moves through the court system.