Drug Distribution Alleged at Clinton County Correctional Facility
WAYNE TOWNSHIP — A former guard and the girlfriend of an inmate at the Clinton County Correctional Facility have been arrested and charged in connection with the distribution of drugs at the local prison.
Adam Grimes, 44, of 1432 Richard Ave., Williamsport, and Patty Jo Workman, 47, of 16 Williamson Heights, Lock Haven, are charged by Pine Creek Township police with selling/furnishing contraband and criminal conspiracy, based on a January incident at the Wayne Township prison.
The two were arrested yesterday, arraigned last night and released after posting bail. The arrests came after 14 prisoners tested positive for drugs following a call from a prison official to Pine Creek Township police in January.
Warden John Rowley said today that prison officials had determined that drugs had been coming into the prison, staff investigated and once information had been gathered, Pine Creek Township police were contacted.
He said prison staff “will continue to very aggressively” work to prohibit contraband from getting into the facility. He said those efforts include new security measures which have been implemented since he assumed direction of the lockup in August of last year. He said he remains “impressed with the correctional facility staff.” He noted that Grimes was terminated once the alleged drug distribution came to light.
Rowley said the 14 inmates who tested positive will be “dealt with administratively,” that no additional criminal charges will be filed against them.
The criminal complaint against Grimes and Workman detailed the allegations:
“The probe began Jan. 25 when Winkleman received a call from Lt. Susan Watt concerning ‘drug activity taking place in the prison.’ Watt said she was told by an inmate that Grimes was introducing controlled substances into the correctional facility and distributing the controlled substances to inmates Norman Kane and Charles Brennan,
“Lt. Watt stated that all inmates in the H block were given urinalysis and 14 inmates tested positive for controlled substances.
“Winkleman and Township Officer Brian Kitko went to the prison to interview CO Grimes. They were joined by Warden John Rowley and Lt. Ryan Boatman. Grimes repeatedly stated, ‘I don’t know what you’re taking about’ during the interview. Grimes never denied the allegations set against him.
“Winkleman and Kitko interviewed numerous inmates who stated that Grimes was introducing controlled substances such as Suboxone and Heroin into the facility for inmates Norman Kane and Charles Brennan. Inmates interviewed stated that Grimes started by bringing chewing tobacco into the facility for Brennan and it then escalated to the controlled substances.”
The criminal complaint continued:
“Winkleman and Kitko then interviewed Brennan who said that Grimes brought the Suboxone and Heroin for Kane and would put the controlled substances in his (Brennan’s) cell #6 in H block under the mattress for the inmates to distribute. Brennan said the Grimes used Brennan’s cell because he personally knew Brennan and felt more comfortable dealing with him rather than inmate Kane. Brennan said that Grimes would be compensated with Suboxone pills for his personal use.
“When asked how the controlled substances were being paid for or how they were being obtained from the outside, Brennan said that inmates were paying Kane’s girlfriend, Patty Jo Workman during visits… she would acquire the Suboxone and Heroin from another source and meet with Grimes for distribution into the facility. Kane refused to to speak with the police officers.”
Police used security footage from the prison relative to an incident on Jan. 18 while Grimes was working in the facility’s L block and then relieves another officer on H block:
“At 11:34 hours, inmate Brennan sees Grimes enter the block and Brennan immediately goes to his cell. Grimes begins a security patrol of the block. At 11:36 hours Grimes enters the cell of inmate Brennan, cell #6, and shuts the door behind him and remains in the cell for approximately 26 seconds. Grimes then leaves the cell and several inmates then enter cell #6.”
“Winkleman and Kitko interviewed Patty Jo Workman who said that she received money from individuals at the Clinton County Correctional Facility for what Workman stated was from the inmates gambling on basketball games.”
