MANSFIELD — The Richland County Prosecutor’s office alleges that a child was used in an attempt to smuggle drugs into the Mansfield Correctional Institution, topping the most recent list of indictments.
Kim C. Covington was indicted on illegal conveyance of drugs on to the grounds of a specified governmental facility, said Jodie Schumacher, the first assistant prosecutor. On Jan. 28, Covington was visiting her son in prison when officials say she was caught with 1.86 grams of fentanyl in the car seat of the child with her.
“The child was used to convey the drugs,” Schumacher said.
The maximum sentence for illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility and trafficking in fentanyl is three years apiece. Both charges are third-degree felonies. Other charges include aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony which could carry up to a year in prison and child endangerment, a first-degree misdemeanor which could lead to six months behind bars.
MANCI employee, Charity L. Brown was also indicted for illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility, May 27, 2016.
“They had information she was bringing in contraband into the prison,” Schumacher said. “They stopped the employee and in fact, found marijuana on her.”
Schumacher added the act of prison employees bringing contraband inside the walls is “a dime a dozen.”
Brown was cited with a third-degree felony and a first degree misdemeanor charge. The felony was for marijuana, and the misdemeanor was for cell phones, the assistant prosecutor said.
On June 25, inmate Gilberto Santos was found with a shank in the prison, Shumacher said. The inmate faces up to three years of additional time for the third-degree felony.
