A 46-year-old caseworker with a 12-year history working in the Nevada prison system is up on serious charges, according to news releases. The Nevada woman is facing gun and drug crime charges in connection to allegations that she was attempting to negotiate a drug deal. She was arrested in Las Vegas on the weekend of Sept. 26 by federal law enforcement, and she is currently in custody pending a trial.
The specifics of the woman’s arrest are unclear as of this report, but it has been confirmed that she and a roommate were arrested while in proximity of their vehicle in Las Vegas. Reports say they were attempting to buy a half-pound of methamphetamine, but no further details about the specifics of their arrest were included. During the course of the arrest, officers say they found a loaded .45 pistol in the vehicle, a weapon that was listed as having been stolen.
It is unclear if the gun was in the possession of the woman or of her roommate, but both individuals have been arrested and charged. Officers say the woman admitted to bringing methamphetamine into the prison in the past, but this has not been corroborated. Both individuals are awaiting trial in Reno, where the investigation into this issue began.
A drug crime charge on the record of a prison employee could theoretically end his or her career. Nevada takes drug crimes very seriously, and should the woman be convicted, she could face steep criminal consequences. However, police will need to provide compelling evidence that she actually was attempting to purchase drugs at the time of her arrest. If such evidence is not introduced, there may not be precedent to hold the woman on these charges.
Source: lasvegasnow.com, “I-Team: Nevada prison employee arrested on drug charges – Story“, Glen Meek, Sept. 30, 2015
