Former Jefferson City correctional officer posts bond after charged with bringing drugs into prison

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former Jefferson City Correctional Officer has posted bond after she was charged with bringing drugs into the prison.

Michelle L. Edwards, of Centertown, was charged with delivery or possession of a controlled substance at a correctional center, possession of a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence.

According to court documents filed on Tuesday, Edwards was allegedly caught bringing papers that field tested positive for methamphetamine and opiates earlier that day.

Deputies said a witness, a Lieutenant at JCCC, said he was doing routine inspections of the staff's property. When checking Edwards' bag, she said the papers were trash and threw them away.

The witness told deputies this was not normal behavior and removed the papers from the trash, according to court documents.

This is when the lieutenant told deputies he field tested the papers and showed positive results for meth.

Court documents state another lieutenant working the cameras saw the inspection take place and told deputies he also found her behavior to be suspicious.

Deputies said they were provided the papers when they arrived at the facility and observed a black line on one of the pages that was not the same color as the rest of the drawing. The paper was also noted to be heavier than a standard piece.

During a post-Miranda interview, deputies said Edwards admitted she had the papers, but said they were trash. She also allegedly told deputies she made the copy while in a housing unit of the facility.

Online court records show Edwards was charged and posted a surety bond of $20,000 on Tuesday.

An arraignment is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 29 at the Cole County courthouse.

A spokesperson with the Department of Corrections said on Thursday morning over email that Edwards is no longer an employee with the department.