A Juneau grand jury on Wednesday indicted two women and a man on charges of bringing illegal drugs into Lemon Creek Correctional Center.
Greggory C. Wright, 23, Aleasha S. Hayward, 30, and Delores N. Smith, 20, have been charged with three counts each of first-degree promoting contraband. Smith faces an additional charge of third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, while Hayward also was charged with tampering with physical evidence.
During the proceedings in Superior Court, Juneau District Attorney James Scott noted that Wright’s criminal history included sexual assault of a minor and theft, that he was currently incarcerated and was set to be released soon. He said that Hayward also was a felon.
Scott said Alaska State Trooper Chris Umbs had begun monitoring calls at LCCC regarding the transport of controlled substances into the jail, in large part because of contraband drugs causing overdoses while inmates were in custody.
“Umbs listened to scores of phone calls (and) heard Wright and Hayward coordinate bringing drugs in,” Scott said.
According to Scott, the jail had begun photocopying mail so that the inmates did not receive the original packaging, and inmates then turned to contact visits to smuggle in drugs.
Wright and Hayward reportedly planned such a contact visit and enlisted Smith, Scott said. Umbs conducted a warrant search during the contact visit on Feb. 11 and Smith reportedly produced a balloon with meth and marijuana, telling the trooper that Hayward gave it to her. Wright confessed under the mistaken impression that an admission would keep him from being prosecuted, Scott said. He added that Hayward was charged with tampering because she had discussed wiping her cellphone.
Hayward and Wright have been having ongoing conversations in the last two weeks and are still planning on drug smuggling, Scott charged.
Just last week, Scott said, Wright was suspected of passing contraband drugs in the jail’s chapel, with a second inmate fleeing and ditching a “bindle,” and a third inmate being found in possession of meth.
“It’s a pretty brazen case,” he said, asking for $10,000 bail on each defendant. “These folks think they’re untouchable.”
• Contact reporter Liz Kellar at 523-2246 or liz.kellar@juneauempire.com.
