Texas Prison Bid'ness

For the fourth time this year, police in Mineral Wells have arrested someone allegedly attempting to throw contraband, including cell phones, over the facility's gates and into the recreation area, according to the Mineral Wells Index ("Man charged with chunking contraband," December 19).

A Murchison, Texas, man was taken into custody late Wednesday after he allegedly attempted to throw contraband over the fence at Corrections Corporation of America’s facility in the 700 block of Heintzelman Road.

Mineral Wells police were notified of the incident at 10:24 p.m. According to police reports, two CCA guards witnessed “several people” on the outside of the gate throwing plastic-wrapped bundles of tobacco over the fence. When the guards approached, the individuals reportedly ran though Steven Wade Richards, 35, was apprehended.

He allegedly claimed to be the look-out for the others and was found in possession of a bundle of Bugler tobacco. There was reportedly an assortment of cell phones and tobacco tossed over the fence. Richards was detained for contraband in a correctional facility.

See selected previous coverage of CCA's Mineral Wells facility:

• Mineral Wells Investigation, Pt. 1 (10/27/2008)

• Mineral Wells Investigation, Pt. 2 (11/04/2008)

• Mineral Wells Investigations, Pt. 3 (11/14/2008)

• Another Attempted Drug Smuggling Incident at Mineral Wells (9/19/2008)

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

• What's Happening At CCA's Mineral Wells Prison (3/28/2008)

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