Saturday, August 21, 1999

County jail nurse accused of smuggling in marijuana

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BY DAN KLEPAL
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        A nurse hired to care for the health of jail inmates was indicted Friday on three felony charges of smuggling marijuana into the lockup on June 27.

        Felitia Harper, 27, of the 10000 block of Quailridge Drive, Forest Park, could face up to 3¹/₂ years in prison if convicted.

        Ms. Harper works for Corrections Medical Service, which is hired by Hamilton County to provide all medical services for inmates inside the Hamilton County Justice Center.

        She was assigned to the jail in January 1999.

        The indictment alleges that Ms. Harper was given the marijuana by the mother of an inmate, who arranged the drug deal on a phone inside the nurse's station at the jail.

        Neither the inmate nor his mother had been charged as of Friday.

        Sheriff deputies were tipped off, and found an unspecified amount of marijuana hidden in the jail's treatment room. The indictment says that the amount was less than 200 grams (7 ounces).

        Steve Barnett, a sheriff's office spokesman, said the arrest wouldn't jeopardize the health care provider's contract with the county.

        “The company didn't have anything to do with this, or any knowledge of it,” Mr. Barnett said.

        The charges against Ms. Harper are trafficking in marijuana, preparation of marijuana for sale and illegal conveyance of drugs onto the grounds of a detention facility.

        Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen called Ms. Harper's alleged actions “irresponsible and dangerous.” It is “terribly abusive of the trust placed in her as a contract employee,” he said.

       

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