Alleged Mexican Mafia gang member on lockdown after deputies find contraband in man’s jail cell

Alleged Mexican Mafia gang member, Rene Esparza, has been charged with delivery of possession of a weapon after deputies spot a makeshift weapon in Esperza’s jail cell.

On Sept. 1, a training class from Pettis County and a couple of other counties were learning how to do cell searches for contraband at the Pettis County Jail.

During the search of one of the cell’s officers did not find any contraband, deputies said.

A secondary search was performed and a deputy noticed a table of the cell that had been missed during the primary search of the cell by officers, deputies said.

Deputies said one officer looked through the items on the table and found a pink and white toothbrush that had been shaved down into a point and could have been used as a weapon which is contraband in the facility.

Deputies said the inmates, Antonio Hurst and Esparza resided in the cell and were put on lockdown until further investigation was completed.

ABC17 previously reported on Esparza back in August for being involved with a robbery at a Sedalia home.