An
18-year-old Bonners Ferry man was ordered bound over for trial at preliminary
hearing today before Judge Justin Julian for allegedly smuggling the controlled
drug Oxycodone into the jail in January.
February 23, 2004
An
18-year-old Bonners Ferry man was ordered bound over for trial at preliminary
hearing today before Judge Justin Julian for allegedly smuggling the controlled
drug Oxycodone into the jail in January.
Baptiste Aitken (left*) was working as a trustee on the day the incident allegedly occurred, shoveling snow from approximately 6:30 a.m. until he was called back into the jail at about 1:30 p.m. Detention deputy Jeff Ennis conducted a routine search after Aitken returned to jail, and discovered a single tan tablet wrapped in a cellophane packet in Aitken’s shirt pocket. Ennis notified detention sergeant Don Alt, and an investigation was launched.
When asked about it, Aitken said he’d found the pill outside in the snow. Another inmate who’d also been out on work detail, however, told the deputy investigating the incident that he’d seen Aitken talking to two other men while outside, and said he’d seen the men give Aitken several items, including cigarettes and a sweater.
Investigators took the pill to a local pharmacist, where it was identified as a 40-milligram tablet of Oxycontin, a highly addictive narcotic pain reliever with a street value of about $1 per milligram. The pharmacist also confirmed that a member of Aitken’s immediate family had a prescription for the medication.
Faced with this information, Aitken later confessed that he’d asked that the tablet be delivered to him. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and bond was set at $20,000.
Following preliminary hearing, Prosecutor Jack Douglas said that maintaining the security of the jail was essential, hence the felony charge.
“It is indeed unfortunate that Baptiste Aitken chose to abuse his work privileges by smuggling such a dangerous drug into the jail after being allowed to go out and shovel snow,” he said. “I credit jailers Ennis and Alt for being on the ball in finding the drug before it got into the jail.”
*Photo courtesy Boundary County Sheriff and available for use without permission.