Arrest In San Quentin Death Row Smuggling Attempt
SAN QUENTIN (CBS SF) – A 47-year-old Southern California woman has been arrested for attempting to smuggle drugs and cell phones to a condemned gang member on San Quentin's Death Row.
According the Marin Independent Journal, Teri Orina Nichols was taken into custody last week after she visited Bruce Millsap, a member of the Crips gang has been condemned to death for the slaying of eight people in Southern California.
Deputy District Attorney Kevin O'Hara told the newspaper that the Los Angeles school teacher had been freed on bail and was expected to be appear for arraignment on Sept. 13.
The paper reported that during her visit with Millsap, a prison employee spotted suspicious plastic bags in the garbage can in the death row visitor area.
Prison guards then approached Nichols, removed her from the room and searched her. Although nothing was discovered during the search, she admitted she had brought food to Millsap.
After further questioning, Nichols produced a large beanie under her clothes that contained 18 cellphones, 18 cellphone chargers and about 3 ounces of heroin.
"We are evaluating how she was successful in circumventing our security measures," prison Lt. Samuel Robinson told the paper.