Prison officer gets cell of his own
A state corrections officer found himself on the wrong side of cell bars after he was jailed for allegedly distributing marijuana to inmates at the State Correctional Institution at Fayette in Luzerne Township. State police said Gary Lee Staggers, 31, of Hiller was charged Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Curtis Thompson with possession of drugs, possession with intent to deliver drugs, criminal attempt to receiving stolen property and criminal attempt to distribute contraband.
Police said Staggers was taken into custody Wednesday night in the parking lot of a business in South Strabane Township, Washington County, after officers set up a sting operation to nab Staggers while buying drugs.
Officers said that Staggers, who has worked as a corrections officer at SCI-Fayette for five years, met an undercover state police trooper in the parking lot and purchased drugs from him.
He was subsequently arrested and later told investigators that he has been supplying marijuana to inmates for several months to make additional money.
State police Troop B Vice Unit, Troop B Patrol Unit, state department of corrections officers, South Strabane Township police and the Washington County District Attorney’s office conducted the sting.
Staggers was placed in the Washington County Prison on $25,000 straight cash bond following his arraignment.
A preliminary hearing for Staggers will be held at a later date before Thompson.