A follower of Charles Manson accused of attempting to smuggle a cell phone to the notorious cult leader has been arrested , California prison officials said Tuesday . Craig Hammond was allegedly caught with a wristwatch cell phone while being searched Sunday at Corcoran State Prison ahead of a planned visit with Manson , said Terry Thornton , spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections . The 63-year-old Hammond was arrested on suspicion of attempting to bring a cell phone into a prison , conspiracy to commit a crime and unauthorized communication with an inmate , Thornton said . Hammond was taken into custody by the King County Sheriff 's Department . He was later released on $ 30,000 bail , officials said . Hammond visits regularly with Manson , telling CNN in 2009 that he moved close to Corcoran prison so he could be near the man he believes possesses deep insight into environmental issues . Hammond told CNN he goes by Gray Wolf , a name he says was given to him by Manson -- who was known to name members of his infamous `` family '' of followers in the 1960s . Manson has twice been caught in possession of a cell phone in his prison cell : Once in 2009 , when authorities found a phone under his bed , and again in 2011 . Manson was initially sentenced to death for the grisly 1969 slayings of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and six others , including Leno and Rosemary LaBianca , by a group of his followers as part of what prosecutors said was an attempt to incite an apocalyptic race war during the country 's massive social unrest . Manson 's death sentence was changed to life in prison after California 's death penalty was overturned for a period during the 1970s . He has been denied parole 12 times .
Craig Hammond , 63 , is a follower of Charles Manson and visits him often . Hammond is accused of trying to smuggle a wristwatch cell phone to Manson . Manson is serving a life sentence for the 1969 slayings of Sharon Tate and eight others . Score: 6