August pretrial set in trafficking case

A Florida woman accused of attempting to traffic with a Putnamville Correctional Facility inmate will be in court for a pretrial conference on Aug. 6.

Judy A. Gary, 51, of Tarpon Springs is charged with Class C felony trafficking with an inmate and Class A misdemeanor possession of marijuana. She could face up to nine years in prison.

Gary was arrested at the prison on June 16. Court documents said Correctional Officer Sherry Wilson found "what appeared to be a plastic bag containing marijuana" on Gary when she was frisked upon her arrival at the prison.

Gary was at the facility to visit an offender.

Wilson confiscated the bag and notified internal affairs staff.

The substance in the bag was field tested and found to be marijuana, court documents said.

Gary was apprehended by Indiana State Police Trooper John Myers. After her arrest, she was transported to the Putnam County Jail.

At a pretrial conference on June 18, Gary's bond was set at $15,000 with 10 percent allowed and $15,000 surety. On June 19 Gary posted her bond and was released from jail.

She had retained Greencastle attorney Darrell Felling.

Putnamville Correctional Facility public information officer Alisia Lawrence said more procedures allowing for more stringent searches of visitors entering the prison have been implemented in an attempt to cut down on the number of trafficking and attempted trafficking incidents.

"I commend officer Wilson," said Putnamville Correctional Facility Superintendent Bruce C. Lemmon. "This type of commitment to duty is what keeps our staff and offenders safe from the harm that could be caused by the introduction of contraband into our facility. Let this serve as notice -- we will take every precaution to ensure that no one entering our facility does so with the intent of bringing in contraband or to violate the law. When caught, you will be prosecuted."