Essex Corrections Officer Accused Of Bringing Drugs, Phone To Inmate

MIDDLETON, MA — An Essex County corrections officer is facing charges that she brought a cell phone and paper soaked in the illegal synthetic drug K2 to an inmate at the Middleton Jail.

The Essex Sheriff's Office said on Thursday that Christal Dunston of Lynn, 33, was seen purchasing the drug-laced paper — commonly called "spice" — and then admitted to previously distributing it to an inmate when Sheriff's Department investigators questioned her about it at the prison.

Subscribe

She faces charges of conspiracy to violate drug laws, one count of delivering drugs/articles to a prisoner, and one count of possession with intent to give/deliver drugs/articles to a prisoner.

She was expected to be arraigned Thursday in Salem District Court.

"There is absolutely no place in this Department for anyone who would jeopardize the safety of their fellow officers and the people in our custody by bringing illegal drugs into a secure facility," Sheriff Kevin Coppinger said. "This is a profound betrayal of the badge, the public trust, and every correctional officer who comes to work each day and does this difficult job with honesty and integrity."

During questioning, the Esses Sheriff's Office said, Dunston admitted to investigators that she had previously brought synthetic cannabinoids into the facility on one occasion and had also brought an illegal cell phone into the facility for use by an incarcerated individual while she was on duty.

Dunston was immediately placed on administrative leave while criminal charges were sought.

The Essex Sheriff's Office said K2 has become "a serious security threat in correctional facilities across the country" worth up to $8,000 inside jails.

Partly because of that threat of soaking paper in drugs, the Essex Sheriff's Office has transitioned moving from physical mail to electronic mail. The Department also no longer allows individuals returning from court to bring outside paperwork into the facility.

Beginning Oct. 1, all legal correspondence will be on a secure electronic mail system, becoming the first correctional facility in Massachusetts to do so.

"These drugs put our officers and the people in our custody at risk and we're relentless when it comes to searching for and finding contraband," Sheriff Coppinger said. "Just one piece of drug-laced paper can cause an overdose, violence, or put lives at risk.

"That is a risk we cannot take."