Published: November 24, 2009 08:29 pm         

Indy women accused of trafficking with inmates

CARLISLE — A pair of Indianapolis women faces charges after separate incidents involving drugs at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility over the weekend.

Ashley Peterson, 20, was jailed Sunday after leaving more than just popcorn behind in a trash can following a visit at the facility.

Peterson was leaving the non-contact visiting area of the Special Confinement Unit shortly after 2 p.m. when she dropped a bag of popcorn into a trash can. Staff watching her exit retrieved the popcorn and found two bags wrapped in black electrical tape. The bags contained a green leafy substance that appeared to be marijuana. Visitor Processing staff were notified and asked her not to leave the facility. Peterson complied while facility Internal Affairs investigators and Indiana State Police were contacted.

After questioning, Peterson was arrested and taken to the Sullivan County Jail, where she faces preliminary charges of possession of marijuana, a class-D felony and trafficking with an inmate, a class-C felony. She is being held on $20,000 bail.

A second Indianapolis woman’s visit with an inmate ended early Saturday morning when drugs were discovered during a search.

Internal Affairs intelligence indicated 36-year-old Angelia M. Collins planned to traffic drugs into the maximum-security facility. She consented to be searched and facility staff found she was carrying more than 2 grams of cocaine and 11 balloons containing more than 20 grams of marijuana. A search of Collins’ car by Sullivan Police Department K-9 “Rico” did not uncover additional contraband.

Collins faces preliminary charges of trafficking, a class-C felony, possession of cocaine, a class-D felony, and a class-A misdemeanor charge for possession of marijuana.

Sullivan police officers Josh Cary and Jason Bobbitt transported Collins to the Sullivan County Jail.