Guard allegedly smuggled tobacco into Grafton prison

A North Coast Correctional Treatment Facility guard has been arrested for allegedly conspiring to smuggle tobacco into the prison.

Douglas Roberts, 26, is charged with bribery and dereliction of duty, according to Elyria Municipal Court records. He agreed during a court appearance Monday to have the case sent to a Lorain County grand jury.

The Ohio Highway Patrol, which investigates crimes in state prisons, said in a news release that Roberts was arrested after he accepted $200 and 1 pound of tobacco to bring into the prison. Tobacco is a prohibited item in all state prisons.

“We have a zero tolerance policy for tobacco,” said Carlo LoParo, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

He referred additional questions to a spokeswoman for the privately operated prison. She did not return a call seeking comment Tuesday.

According to the initial report prepared by troopers investigating the case, an inmate at the prison reported that Roberts solicited him to help bring the tobacco into the prison and that Roberts wanted to be paid.

The release said that the plan called for the tobacco to be covertly sold to inmates.

Patrol Lt. Anne Ralston said the case remains under investigation and she couldn’t comment on whether others might be charged.

North Coast Correctional is owned by the state but operated by a private company. It is one of the facilities that Gov. John Kasich has suggested selling to generate revenue to help close the state’s budget gap.
Roberts, who lives in Sullivan, is free on bond.

He could get more than five years behind bars if convicted of the charges leveled against him.