Inmate found in possession of ‘ice’

A Department of Corrections inmate was recently found in possession of methamphetamine in her cell during a cell search conducted by one of the officers.

Inmate Abigail Renee Duenas was allegedly caught in possession of methamphetamine in her cell at DOC following a cell search over a week ago.

Duenas, 25, is facing charges of illegal possession and bringing contraband into a prison.

Following a bail hearing last week in Superior Court, a $5,000 bail was imposed on Duenas before she was remanded back to Department of Corrections custody.

Duenas was ordered to return to court today, March 27, for a preliminary hearing while her arraignment is set for April 1.

According to court documents, Department of Public Safety Central received a call from DOC’s Internal Affairs officer Lianna Quitugua on Monday, March 4, at around 2:39pm, who reported an illegal possession incident. At around 2:46pm that same day, police officer Bradford Peter arrived at DOC and met with Quitugua.

According to Quitugua, DOC officer Shaina Rios was conducting a cell search in the female unit, Pod-3 Section-C, when she discovered a clear Ziploc baggie containing a crystal-like substance. Quitugua noted that the baggie was concealed within a paper hidden inside a bra-strap within Duenas’ cellblock.

Quitugua said she tested the substance in the baggie using the Narcotics Identification Kit, which resulted in a presumptive positive result for the presence of methamphetamine.

At around 7:32pm that same day, DPS officers arrived at DOC and met with Duenas for an interview.

According to Duenas, she entered DOC on Feb. 9, for charges of theft and was released on Feb. 24. She was scheduled to return to DOC on Feb. 29 to start her sentence.

However, Duenas claims that before she was released on Feb. 24, she was allegedly approached by her fellow inmates, Liva Fitial and Shaina Castro, who knew that she would be returning on Feb. 29.

Duenas claims Fitial and Castro instructed her to smuggle methamphetamine for them when she returns. Duenas claims she was afraid of Fitial and Castro so she agreed to do what they demanded.

Duenas also told police that when she was released from prison, she contacted her brother-in-law and asked him for meth.

On Thursday, Feb. 28, Duenas said her brother-in-law handed her a clear Ziplock baggie containing a white crystal-like substance at her home in Papago.

On Feb. 29, when she arrived at DOC, Duenas said she hid the Ziploc baggie in her underwear. Duenas noted that the officer that searched her upon entering DOC did not see it.

Duenas claims said she was unable to hand over the Ziploc baggie to Fitial or Castro when she arrived as they were in a different section.

Duenas claims she continued to hide the Ziploc baggie in her cell until March 4 when Rios conducted a cell search. Duenas added that she approached the officer herself and admitted she had drugs in her cell and that’s how Rios found the drugs.