by Scott Smith
BUNKER HILL — A kitchen worker at the Miami Correctional Facility faces three felony counts of drug trafficking after being found in possession of a large amount of marijuana, Indiana State Police reported Monday.
Michael J. Newman, 22, Peru, was charged Saturday with two counts of trafficking with an inmate and an additional charge of conspiracy to traffic with an inmate, all class C felonies. He also was charged with a class D felony count of possession of marijuana over 30 grams.
Indiana State Police teamed with the Indiana Department of Correction after a tip indicated Newman, a contracted food service employee at the prison, would be trying to deliver marijuana to an inmate.
Troopers stopped an Oldsmobile Bravada driven by Newman near the south intersection of Ind. 218 and U.S. 31 Saturday morning. The marijuana was discovered inside the car, police said. Newman was arrested and taken to the Miami County Jail.
The investigation is ongoing, and state police Monday said more arrests were expected.
State Police Detective Mike Tarrh and DOC Internal Affairs Officer Lorna Harbaugh were assisted in the investigation by State Police Detective Tony Frawley and officers from the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section.
• Scott Smith is a Kokomo Tribune staff writer. He may be reached at 765-454-8569 or via e-mail at scott.smith@kokomotribune.com
