Alert Washington Parish Jail officers recently foiled a plot to introduce meth and tobacco into the Washington Parish Jail, according to Chief Deputy Mike Haley of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

While searching items that had been brought to the jail for an inmate, officers discovered a significant quantity of meth, along with smoking tobacco, Haley said. Using a combination of investigative techniques, officers were able to identify both the person who brought the drugs as well as the inmate for whom it was intended.

Haley said that the drugs and tobacco were concealed inside the sole of a pair of slippers. Stitching on the slippers had been carefully removed, the contraband inserted, and the slippers stitched back together. The slippers were particularly suspicious since they are not a type of footwear that is allowed in the jail, Haley said.

Kristie Omega Lewis, 34, a resident of Parker Street in Franklinton, was arrested on Monday and charged with possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs and introduction of contraband into a penal institute. She remains in jail with her bond set at $5,000.

Haley said that Lewis is no stranger to the Washington Parish Jail. Since 2007, she has been in the jail six times on charges including forgery, issuing worthless checks and driving while intoxicated, in addition to the current charges.

Also arrested was current inmate Tremale Deonta Jenkins, 26, a resident of Williams Street in Franklinton. Jenkins has been in the jail since Saturday, May 26, with a $501,000 bond, charged with first-degree aggravated rape and failure to appear in court. He now faces additional charges of conspiracy to possess a narcotic and introduction of contraband into a penal institute.

Haley said that this is also his sixth time to be in the Washington Parish Jail since 2010, on charges including criminal damage to property, theft, aggravated robbery, possession of a stolen firearm and convicted felon in possession of a firearm, in addition to his current charges.

“Congratulations to our outstanding jail staff for another job well done,” Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “Attempts to introduce contraband are a constant problem, but our jail staff is always on the alert for contraband and any other form of deception. Jail officers are the unsung heroes of the criminal justice system.

“They must constantly manage the most dysfunctional persons in our parish — persons who don’t follow rules and have little or no respect for authority. I am so pleased to have each member of our jail staff working for the Sheriff’s Office.”