Marijuana, tobacco found in inmate's jail cell

A small package of marijuana and tobacco left on a desk in a large, general-population inmate cell at the Mendocino County Jail led authorities bring in police dog "Britt," who found more contraband in a Monday morning search, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Department. "We believe it was smuggled in," said Capt. Tim Pearce of the MCSO, who serves as jail commander. Inmate Jesse Bacon, 51, had been awaiting sentencing at the jail and had left on a court-ordered pass, Pearce said, and authorities believe he smuggled the contraband into the jail in his rectum when he returned.

It was found the next day, when corrections deputy William Hardman was doing hourly safety checks and spotted a suspicious bundle sitting on a desk, according to the MCSO. He opened the package and found what appeared to be pot and tobacco. About 40 inmates were taken out of the housing unit and searched, according to the MCSO, and Hardman led his K-9 partner, Britt, through the entire unit. Britt alerted to a toilet paper roll and a sock in a bunk in one of the cells. Authorities found a tobacco package containing tobacco and marijuana inside the toilet paper roll, according to the MCSO, and a lighter, cigarette-rolling paper and six small bundles containing tobacco, chewing tobacco and marijuana inside the sock.

Bacon was charged with possessing controlled substances in a place where prisoners are held, possessing drugs or alcohol, possessing a wireless communication device or tobacco products in a local correctional facility and violating his probation. Bacon had been awaiting sentencing he was arrested in August on suspicion of vehicle theft, kidnapping, possessing methamphetamine and violating his probation. He was arraigned in court on the new charges Wednesday morning. As with all inmates booked at the jail, Bacon was strip-searched, and his clothing was searched, according to Pearce.

Authorities found no probable cause for a cavity search, which requires a warrant, he said. Inmates are found hiding tobacco about every two or three weeks on average, according to jail spokesman John Bednar, but marijuana is much less commonly found smuggled into the jail. "What typically happens is (an arrested person) secrets it in a body orifice, and when they sleep they take it out and hide it somewhere," said jail spokesman John Bednar. Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman applauded Hardman and Britt, who he said had just completed training together about two weeks prior to the find. "We're extremely proud of Britt," he said.