Prison worker accused of discussing hit list involving corrections officers, weapons found

MADISON COUNTY — A Madison County Correctional Institution employee resigned Wednesday following allegations he made comments about a hit list of corrections officers he would shoot.

Chace Dobbs, 21, of Springfield, who worked as a mail clerk at the facility, was arrested at the prison Wednesday afternoon. He is charged with a misdemeanor charge of aggravated menacing and is due in court Friday morning for his arraignment, court records show.

“Dobbs told other employees in the mail room that there was a list of other employees that he would shoot for various reason[sic],” a statement of facts filed in Madison County Municipal Court read. “Dobbs gave specific names of several corrections officers that he would shoot.”

Dobbs resigned from his position at the prison after he was made aware of the allegation against him, said Jo Ellen Smith, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Corrections.

“Dobbs stated reasons why he was upset and unhappy with the individuals he named, but stated he was only joking and would not follow through with his threats,” court records read.

Investigators searched Dobbs’ vehicle in the prison’s parking lot and found a Ruger LCP, .380 caliber handgun — loaded with a magazine with six rounds and one round in the barrel — in the storage compartment of the driver’s door, court records showed.

An unloaded Smith and Wesson .22 caliber long rifle pistol also was found in the vehicle’s trunk, records read.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Investigative Services division is conducting the investigation.