Man accused of sneaking Manson a cellphone

CORCORAN, Calif., March 27 (UPI) -- A California man was arrested on allegations he tried to sneak a cellphone to imprisoned cult leader Charles Manson at Corcoran State Prison, officials said.

The Kings County Sheriff's Office said Craig Carlisle Hammond, 63, was arrested and charged Sunday with unauthorized communication with a prisoner, bringing a cellphone into a prison and conspiracy, ABC News reported Monday.

Officials did not say whether Hammond was an acolyte of the 78-year-old Manson, serving a life sentence for seven murders in a 1969 killing spree in Los Angeles. Among the victims were pregnant actress Sharon Tate and coffee heiress Abigail Folger.

"Inmates can make collect calls on the phones provided in our institutions. Those phones are monitored," Terry Thornton, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections, said. "That's one of the dangers of the contraband cellphones."

Thornton said the device was confiscated during visitor processing.

Hammond was released on $30,000 bail. His next court appearance is April 25, when he will enter a plea, officials said.