Former CO sentenced for trafficking

Friday, August 29, 2008

A former Putnamville Correctional Facility corrections officer who was arrested in March was sentenced Thursday morning.

David Scott Kiger, 26, Rushville, faced Judge Matt Headley for his sentencing. Following a brief hearing, Headley gave Kiger eight years.

Of that eight years, he will serve six, to be broken up into three years in the prison and three years on home detention.

Kiger was charged with a Class C felony for his part in smuggling marijuana, cocaine and cell phones into the penal facility where he was employed.

A plea agreement was approved in the case because of Kiger's cooperation as the fact that he had no prior criminal convictions.

Kiger's wife took the stand and told the court to consider giving her husband a second chance. She said Kiger was the sole caretaker for his family including his wife, child, mother and grandmother while his father is serving in Iraq.

Kiger told the court that he was coerced into the smuggling act after he and his family were threatened by gangs with outside sources.

He said he had smuggled contraband into the prison no more than five times.

Headley countered by saying Kiger was probably taught how to deal with such situations during his first week of job training at the prison.

In March, Kiger was caught conducting a drug deal in Cloverdale and was arrested by Indiana State Police.

At that time, he was charged with one count of dealing cocaine over 3 grams, one count of possession of cocaine over 3 grams, one count of dealing in marijuana under 30 grams, one count of possession of marijuana under 30 grams, one count of dealing in a schedule II controlled substance, one count of possession of a schedule II controlled substance, one count of trafficking with an offender and one count of neglect of a dependant due to his child being in the car with him when he conducted the drug deal.

Kiger was to report to Putnam County Jail at noon on Thursday to begin his incarceration.

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  • Cry Cry Cry

    -- Posted by dkbuskirk on Sat, Aug 30, 2008, at 6:35 AM
  • As an employee of Putnamville Correctional Facility and a long term Employee of the Indiana Department of Correction it is inexcusable that individuals such as Mr. Kiger blame everyone else and other circumstances as justification for their actions. This individual placed the lives of every staff member working at this facility in jeopardy, as well as visitors, contractors and the public at large not to mention the potential impact to the families of those persons as well. The public already has a somewhat negative opinion of Correctional Professionals especially the Custody Staff (Officers). We are often regarded as sadistic and indifferent to the offenders we supervise, portrayed as Jack-booted thugs inflicting a vigilante form of "prison justice" In fact most of the press received about our profession is about this type of criminal conduct, rather then the many positive stories which occur within our confines on a regular basis. The vast majority of staff displays a high level of professionalism in their service to the citizens of this area, and the state as a whole, thru their constant vigilance to maintain the Safety and Security of the facility and the community in which many of them and their families reside. The amount of contraband and prohibited property being found at this facility as well as many others around the state is mind boggling, unfortunately some of this is smuggled in by staff such as persons like Mr. Kiger. I' am glad to see Mr. Kiger is being punished for his actions, it's unfortunate that his family has to suffer for his selfish acts, however it is refreshing to see the local Courts are recognizing the seriousness of this problem which exists within our profession.

    -- Posted by ISF-C/O on Sat, Aug 30, 2008, at 10:38 AM
  • Hey joey cope you probably should proofread your comment before posting it! He has not been convicted of anything yet just blamed. For whatever reasons he may have pleaded guilty for, the only people who know the truth is himself and GOD! In the end that is where honesty counts; when you face the Lord!

    -- Posted by be a better parent on Sat, Aug 30, 2008, at 10:49 PM
  • Hey be a better parent...you sound very angry and hateful when you speak of God, you should speak with him about that........

    Officers that smuggle drugs into prisons should be prosecuted to the fullest extent. They are there committing the same illegal acts as the offenders who got themselves there, no matter their reason for doing so.

    Most officers are law abiding citizens and those that do these things leave us with a bad taste in our mouth.

    He had no prior criminal record of course, you cannot have a prior criminal record and work in a prison. To my knowledge they do a full criminal background check.

    He knew the price he could pay before he even smuggled anything and chose to do so anyway, for whatever reason.....you play, you pay.

    The only difference between him and the offenders was that he hadn't gotten caught yet.

    -- Posted by L & L inc. on Wed, Sep 3, 2008, at 9:34 AM
  • *

    A CO in jail. That's not gonna go over well with his fellow inmates.

    -- Posted by tackleberry65 on Fri, Sep 5, 2008, at 9:32 AM
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