ANDERSON — A former Pendleton prison guard faces up to four years in prison when he is sentenced today for smuggling contraband into the facility.
Tommy Turner, 37, Muncie, pleaded guilty April 6 to helping Pendleton Correctional Facility inmates smuggle marijuana, cell phones and tobacco into the prison after the contraband was hidden inside wheelchairs.
Prosecutors charged Turner with official misconduct and one count each of felony and misdemeanor conspiracy to traffic with an inmate.
In an agreement with prosecutors, the most serious charge, felony conspiracy to traffic, will be dismissed. It is punishable by two to eight years in prison.
Official misconduct has a sentencing range of six months to three years. The misdemeanor trafficking charge has a maximum sentence of one year.
A published telephone listing for Turner could not be located to seek comment.
According to court documents, investigators discovered in November 2006 that “a large amount” of tobacco, marijuana and cell phones were being smuggled into the prison via wheelchairs. The wheelchairs were given to the prison to be refurbished by inmates.
Detective Bob May, with the Indiana State Police, previously said that collaborators outside the prison would remove the filling from the wheelchairs’ backs and seats, and the contraband was stuffed inside.
The amount of contraband brought into the prison wasn’t listed in the documents. May said about four wheelchairs were used to smuggle the items. The contraband was discovered during a routine search by a drug-detecting dog.
Turner told investigators an inmate offered him $500 to allow tobacco to be brought into the prison using the wheelchairs. Turner said he felt “pressured” to take the cash.
“Officer Turner stated that he was unsure and afraid and he kept the money,” according to a probable cause affidavit.
Turner said during questioning he knew of tobacco being brought in on four or five occasions. He said he didn’t know marijuana and cell phones were being smuggled.
Contact Shawn McGrath: 640-4883, shawn.mcgrath @heraldbulletin.com
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