Resident alleges black mold at county jail; commissioners say they will investigate

A Denton-area resident told the Caroline County commissioners Tuesday that she found black mold throughout the county jail’s shower areas during a recent stay and that her attempts to get a response from county staff were unsuccessful.

Ashley Pleasanton addressed the board during the meeting’s closing public comment period, saying she spent about a month and a half at the facility and observed black mold in showers and other areas. She said she saved a sample and asserted staff had not responded to calls and emails. The transcript records her saying, “There is black mold everywhere in there.”

Why it matters: Complaints about mold in a county detention facility raise potential public‑health and liability concerns for detainees and staff. The commissioners said they would investigate the allegation.

County response: Commissioners and staff told the speaker they would follow up, review the matter and noted that the state of Maryland performs facility inspections. A county official said the county had not been informed of mold at the facility and would perform due diligence to investigate the claim and respond. No formal county finding was reported during the meeting.

What’s next: Commissioners asked staff to look into the matter. The transcript does not record any formal motion, inspection result or remediation plan; county staff said they would investigate and follow up with the speaker.

Provenance: The comment and county response are recorded in the transcript at ~4834–5079.

Ending: The county committed to investigate the allegation; no inspection results or remediation timeline were provided at the meeting.