Seal Beach Jail Guard Charged With Taking Bribes

A guard at Seal Beach's city jail pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges he accepted bribes -- including an iPad and cash -- for letting visitors smuggle booze and other contraband to an inmate.

Jose Alday, 32, of Santa Ana, was arrested Christmas Day on suspicion of taking bribes, possessing a controlled substance for sale and possessing drug paraphernalia.

If convicted, he faces a maximum five years in state prison. He was being held on $100,000 bail, according to a District Attorney's office press release.

Before his arrest, Alday had worked as a non-sworn detention center officer at the Seal Beach City Jail for about four years, prosecutors said.

Between July 1 and Dec. 25, Alday is accused of accepting bribes on multiple occasions. He allegedly let unsearched visitors bring prohibited contraband, including alcohol, to the inmate. The alleged crimes occurred while Alday was working alone.

In exchange for allowing these unauthorized visits, Alday was allegedly paid off with money, an iPad, a cell phone, two leather jackets and other items. The bribes were delivered by the inmate’s visitors.

The Seal Beach Police Department received a tip this month and began investigating. Alday was arrested Dec. 25 at work.

At the time of his arrest, he also had a "substantial amount" of anabolic steroids at the jail, prosecutors said. During a search of Alday's home, police found a used methamphetamine pipe, authorities said.

Alday's pretrial hearing and bail review are scheduled for Jan. 4.