Visitor arrested for trafficking at Putnamville facility Tuesday

PUTNAMVILLE -- A 28-year-old Muncie woman was arrested Tuesday, April 8 at the Putnamville Correctional Facility (PCF) on a charge of trafficking with an offender.

Jessica Mann was visiting with her friend, PCF offender Gordon Garrett, when correctional staff reportedly observed her placing an object inside a chip bag. She was subsequently escorted out of the visitation room by internal affairs officers and taken to a secure location.

Mann admitted to having illegal contraband on her person during an interview with PCF officers. At that time, in the presence of female staff, she voluntarily surrendered various amounts of Vicodin, Suboxone, marijuana, Ecstasy, Valium, Klonopin and cocaine.

Mann was placed under arrest by correctional police officers and transported to the Putnam County Jail on preliminary charges of possession of cocaine/narcotics and a Class C felony count of trafficking.

Garrett, 30, of Muncie, is currently serving sentences for possession of controlled substances, escape and firearms with an anticipated release date of Oct. 26, 2016.

He has been placed in the PCF Administrative Restricted Housing Unit and could face other criminal charges pending the outcome of the investigation, officials said.

"We take every opportunity possible to deflect visitors from trafficking within our facility from the moment they enter the building utilizing various signs, examples of prior arrests and verbal warnings during the visitor pat-down process," PCF Superintendent Stanley Knight stressed.

"Those individuals choosing not to follow these leads will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Knight added. "I commend our staff for their efforts to stop this illegal activity for the safety of staff, offenders and the public."