ALFRED — Seven correction officers at York County Jail are facing charges related to the smuggling of drugs and other items to an inmate.
The four current and three former officers were indicted Wednesday by a York County grand jury.
“Unfortunately, a young corrections officer was manipulated into introducing contraband, such as cigarettes and a cellphone, into the secured section of the York County Jail,” York County Sheriff Maurice Ouellette said. “His actions, if proven, clearly threaten the safety and security of the institution. As the cultivation continued, the officer not only introduced contraband into the facility but also delivered illegal substances outside of the facility at the inmate’s direction.”
The four current officers have been placed on administrative leave. Three others resigned this year.
The investigation was prompted by a photo of an inmate on social media that appeared to have been taken inside the jail.
Investigators learned that Chace Bellefountaine, of Sanford, the subject of the photo, had a cellphone in his possession and was distributing drugs while incarcerated, Ouellette said.
“More disturbing information was gathered that alleged a corrections officer introduced the contraband into the facility and, on at least one occasion, took contraband out of the facility and delivered the contraband to an outside accomplice of Bellefountaine, Mercedes Cullicutt,” the sheriff said.
Two guards, Connor Bogan, 21, of Springvale, and Steven Thomas, 25, of Biddeford, have been indicted on a felony count of trafficking in prison contraband. Thomas also faces misdemeanor charges of official oppression and conspiracy.
Ouellette said the other guards are facing charges of failing to report the activity.
Jay Bondar, 30, of Ogunquit; Anthony Klingensmith, 42, of Sanford; Richard Lane, 43, of Parsonsfield; Christopher Langlais, 24, of Kennebunk; and Nathan Watson, 21, of Hiram, face misdemeanor counts of official oppression.
Bellefountaine, 29, of Sanford, the former inmate, and Cullicutt, 24, of Sanford, have been indicted on charges of trafficking in prison contraband and drug trafficking.
It wasn’t clear if the suspects had attorneys. There were no phone listings in their names.
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