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Another Attempted Drug Smuggling Incident at CCA's Mineral Wells Unit

Fri, 09/19/2008 - 11:19 — Bob

For the second time in a month, a youth has been caught attempting to smuggle drugs into Correction's Corporation of America's Mineral Wells facility, according to a story in the Mineral Wells Index ("Teen Caught Trying to Toss Contraband Into Prison Yard," September 17).

Mineral Wells police were summoned to the Corrections Corporation of America facility early Monday morning after a juvenile was discovered attempting to throw a duffel bag over the fence, officials reported.

According to police officials, they were dispatched at 2:23 a.m. to the pre-parole facility in the 700 block of Heintzelman Road where CCA guards had a 15-year-old boy detained.

The juvenile was reportedly attempting to throw a black duffel bag over the facility's north fence. Inside the bag, police said, were 200 packs of Bugler cigarettes, three bottles of cologne, four cigarette lighters and eight prepaid cell phones. Police officials said some of the devices had phone numbers already programmed in.

The youth allegedly told authorities someone from Houston paid him $1,000 to throw the bag across the fence; despite his reported attempts, he said the bag was too heavy.

Upon the guards' arrival, a woman driving a gray vehicle allegedly left the scene and law enforcement issued a bulletin on the vehicle. The driver was later stopped by the Parker County Sheriff's Office on a traffic stop and identified as a Houston resident. She was then released, police reported.

The juvenile was taken to the Mineral Wells police station where his mother was contacted at a motel in Weatherford, according to officials. The teenager was released and CCA kept the duffel bag “for their evidence,” police reported.

This is the second incident in recent weeks where a juvenile was found allegedly attempting to throw items over the facility's fence.

CCA's Mineral Wells facility has developed quite the reputation, and Grassroots Leadership is currently examining Open Records documents obtained about incidents at the facility. It also appears that our posts about the facility seem to generate more reader comments than posts on other facilities . See our previous coverage of incidents at the facility:

Teen Uses Football to Smuggle Drugs into CCA Prison (8/25/2008)

A Riot at CCA's Mineral Wells Facility? (7/29/2008)

What's Happening at CCA's Mineral Wells Facility? (3/28/2008)

Mineral Wells Still on Lockdown After Two Days of Disturbances (8/17/2007)

Prisoners Escape from CCA Prison (5/31/2007)


Comments

Sat, 09/20/2008 - 15:10 — donna123

Miserable Wells

. Miserable Wells. Hello, you got the name right. Thanks


Sat, 09/20/2008 - 09:17 — Moleskine

Another misleading headline on TPB

TPB mislead readers last time

http://texasprisonbidness.org/scandals/teen-uses-football-smuggle-contra...

and now TPB is misleading readers again.

In both this instance, and that instance your site implies that these contraband interdiction events are negative reflections on Miserable Wells. You need to be fair if you want to be credible. At least this time you quote enough of the Index story to reveal the facts: Miserable's officers caught someone before the contraband entered the facility and cooperated with law enforcement to resolve it.

Mon, 09/22/2008 - 15:09 — magpie68

Caught 'im!

Looks like law enforcement and the officials at the detention center were at the top of their game on this one. The point here is that the contraband was snagged BEFORE it made its way into the facility. Yet you're trying to make it sound like this is an example of how CCA and private prisons are complete screw ups. I think only someone who has their mind set in that line of thinking will see it that way.


Sat, 09/20/2008 - 08:43 — kayroberts

mineral wells ppt facility

my son is also there at mwppt. what a nightmare, the guards take food from the prisoners, and from what i understand they take favors.... my son is in re-veiw for another charge against him from the facility. they moved him into a new room and three days later found cell phones in the wall closet to his bunk, of course they are saying he is guilty. what i don't understand is how he could break the wall patch it up and hide all the cell phones in this amount of time? and please don't send them clothes because the women who distribute the clothes have a re-sale shop and take most of the clothes to their shop. please help us get our loved ones out of there!!!!!!!


Fri, 09/19/2008 - 22:15 — donna123

Mineral Wells Prison, CCA

In addition to all the other scandals CCA is only providing 30 actual minutes on a 3 hour course. Naturally, we the tax payers are paying CCA for 3 hour classes and the in-mates are only getting 30 minutes of "rehabilitation". This is just one of many examples that can be given. I'm actually surprised they caught the 15 y/o? There are enough cell phones, drugs, etc for the whole state of Texas in Mineral Wells, CCA. This is my opinion based on information from inside personnel.