Essex County corrections officer charged with smuggling drugs, cellphone to inmate

An Essex County corrections officer is facing conspiracy charges for allegedly smuggling a cellphone and cannabinoid-soaked sheets of paper to an inmate at the Middleton House of Correction, records show.

Christal Dunston, 33, of Lynn, was arraigned Thursday on charges of conspiracy to violate drug law, two counts of delivering drugs or articles to a prisoner, and possessing drugs or articles with intent to deliver to a prisoner, the Essex County District Attorney’s Office said in a press release. She pleaded not guilty to the charges in Salem District Court.

Prosecutors allege that Dunston was in possession of K2, a cannabinoid also commonly known as spice. The drug is intended to mimic THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

Dunston is alleged to have smuggled the drugs and cellphone into the prison between June and August, according to court filings. When investigators searched her house Aug. 26, she handed over a blue shopping bag with five pages of blank paper.

Narcotics enforcement officers had taken notice of the shopping bag the day before. When investigators tested the sheets of paper, they yielded a positive result for synthetic cannabinoids, records show.

During an interview with investigators, Dunston allegedly admitted to bringing the substance into the House of Correction and delivering it to an inmate June 27. This information, along with recorded phone calls in the jail, indicated that she intended to distribute the cannabinoid, according to court filings.

Investigators also found a cellphone concealed inside a stainless-steel coffee mug during a search of Dunston and her belongings. They learned that she would smuggle in the cellphone and give it to an inmate while she was on shift, records show.

Dunston was ordered held on $10,000 bail and committed to the House of Correction. She is due back in court virtually Oct. 6 for a probable cause hearing via Zoom, court records show.

John Valerio, Dunston’s attorney, declined to comment Sunday morning.