4 women arrested for smuggling contraband into WA State Penitentiary

WALLA WALLA – Three separate visitors to the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla were arrested Monday for attempting to introduce contraband. One had also been arrested over the weekend.

The Washington State Department of Corrections identified the three as Linda Maria Baltazar, 32, of Prosser; McKenzi Dawn Maple, 32, of Cheney; and Laura Elizabeth Spracklin, 36, of Olympia. Maple has had charges filed against her. Charges are pending for Baltazar and Spracklin.

DOC allege that each arrived at the prison loaded with drugs they likely intended to deliver. Two of the suspects admitted to prior deliveries.

Court documents state the drugs were Buprenorphine and Suboxone strips. Baltazar was also allegedly in possession of a dangerous weapon.

“When drugs make it into prisons, it undermines our core function to rehabilitate,” DOC Secretary Tim Lang said. “This is a daily issue. It’s a profound threat. So, we’re very focused on keeping drugs out.

Physical mail is scanned for digital delivery to inmates due to the presence of opioids and cannabinoids. Balloons and drones have been intercepted near prisons. Visitors are screened individually, and the DOC is testing a body scanner program for more frequent and less invasive screenings. Trained dogs that detect fentanyl have also been effective.

“We do get bad actors, and we perform all this security to maintain a safe environment,” DOC Intelligence and Investigations Unit Investigator Rod Coll said.

On Sunday, Mariela Gavarrete-Campos, 21, of SeaTac was allegedly attempting to deliver drugs within the Washington State Penitentiary. DOC said she was seen on surveillance dropping a bundle of drugs, using a crawling infant as cover. Charges have been filed against her.

All four women were released on their own recognizance following their first court appearances this week. They are all scheduled for arraignment on March 31.

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