Indianapolis woman charged with trafficking

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

GREENCASTLE -- An Oct. 19 pretrial date has been set for an Indianapolis woman charged with trafficking with a Putnamville Correctional Facility inmate.

Litonya Smith, 42, is accused passing drugs to offender James A. Thornton, 43, during a visit at the prison. She has been charged with trafficking with an inmate, a Class C felony.

A report prepared by Indiana State Police Trooper Heath Kerns said officers at the prison saw Smith take "a black bag out of her pants" and hand it to Thorton during the visit. On the course of a strip search on Thornton, officers found "a bag wrapped with black tape which contained plant material, a white, powdery substance in a clear plastic bag, a brown cigarette and several assorted pills," Kerns' report said.

Thornton was sentenced in 2006 to 12 years in prison on a Class B felony charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious felon. He has also spent time in prison for possession of cocaine or narcotic drugs, handgun violations, resisting law enforcement and burglary.

At the time the trafficking charge was filed in Putnam County Circuit Court, Smith already had a Class A misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana pending against her in Putnam County Superior Court. The trafficking charge was transferred to Superior Court, and Smith will also have a pretrial conference on the misdemeanor charge on Oct. 19.

Test results are still pending on the contraband found in Thornton's possession after his visit with Smith.

Smith's only other criminal history includes a 2008 conviction out of Hancock County for driving while suspended for which she spent 10 days in jail.

Thornton is facing a Class C felony charge of conspiracy to commit trafficking with an inmate. The court is also seeking to deem him a habitual offender, which could significantly increase any additional sentence he receives.

Class C felonies are punishable by up to eight years in prison.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: