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Ex-inmate accused of sending meth-laced postcards to Wash. prison

A 37-year-old man is accused of mailing postcards and letters soaked in methamphetamine to the Washington State Penitentiary

By Donald W. Meyers
Yakima Herald-Republic, Wash.

YAKIMA, Wash. A 37-year-old Grandview man is accused of mailing postcards and letters soaked in methamphetamine to the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.

The man was initially arrested Wednesday at his Sunnyside-Mabton Road home after refusing to submit to a random drug test as part of his parole, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Authorities found two handguns, including one reported stolen in Prosser, an unspecified quantity of methamphetamine; and several postcards similar to the ones prison officials said had been sent to inmates in the Walla Walla facility that were laced with meth, the affidavit said.

One of the cards tested positive for methamphetamine, the affidavit said.

Officers also found documents listing inmates’ names and addresses, how many grams of meth were on each card and a chart listing street and prison values for the drug, the affidavit said.

Detectives said the drug sales were providing money for a street gang, as well as boosting its control of the drug trade at the prison.

During a preliminary hearing Thursday in Yakima County Superior Court, Judge Richard Bartheld ordered the man held in lieu of $200,000 bail on suspicion of unlawful firearms possession, possessing a stolen firearm, manufacturing meth, possessing the drug with the intent to sell it, introducing contraband into a prison and reckless endangerment.

Authorities said there were two children in the house who had access to where the guns and drugs were found, the affidavit said.

Court records show that the man was on parole after serving a 13-month sentence after pleading guilty to second-degree assault.

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