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Internal discipline of prisoners replaced by state charges

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By Tom Hartsock

Sun Correspondent

Alert personnel at the Gallup McKinley Adult Detention Center on Mar. 15 resulted in additional charges being filed against a man and a woman already in custody.

Natasha N. (Kiro) Leonard, 29, lists her address as 515 E. Pershing in Gallup. She was observed trying to slip a thin package of what turned out to be heroin under the cell door of another prisoner on March 15.

That same day, an agent of the McKinley County Sheriff's Department busted 47-year old Angel Daniel Roan attempting the same business arrangement.

Both were charged with Bringing Contraband into Places of Imprisonment and Trafficking Controlled Substances.

Leonard's bond was increased to $30,000 on the two extra charges while Roan's increased from $15,000 on two Magistrate Court warrants by another $55,000. Leonard was arrested on Feb. 29 on one outstanding warrant from District Court and two from Magistrate Court.

According to Lt. Pat Salazar of the McKinley County Sheriff's Office, it is still a mystery on how the narcotics are getting into the facility, though users are known to insert the thin packages deep into available bodily openings.

“Deputy Warden Steve Silversmith is trying to get this facility clean,” Salazar said. “We are filing state charges against these violators. The previous administration used internal discipline, but it just doesn't work.”

Three agents work at the jail in an attempt to eliminate any contraband from coming inside, be it drugs, alcohol, or other forbidden products.









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