Torres: I’m proud of my staff and how the situation was handled

In response to a recent case where an inmate managed to smuggle methamphetamine inside the local prison, Department of Corrections Commissioner Anthony Torres said he is on the whole proud of the way his staff handled the situation.

Torres said the fact that an inmate managed to smuggle drugs past DOC’s booking process does not minimize the way his staff handled the matter and that DOC continues to improve its contraband detection.

Inmate Abigail Renee Duenas, who is serving her sentence on a “segmented” basis—in this case every weekend—was allegedly caught with methamphetamine or “ice” in her cell last March 4 during a cell search conducted by a DOC officer. Charges of illegal possession and bringing contraband into a prison have already been brought against the defendant.

When asked about his thoughts on the situation, especially since Duenas told police that she managed to smuggle drugs past DOC’s booking process, Torres said things like this might happen as DOC continues to improve its contraband detection.

“Things happen but when these contrabands come in, it’s all about the accountability and when [DOC officers] are doing that, I know they’re doing their job. As to what [Duenas] told police, I can’t speak on that, but I can speak on my staff and they found [the drugs] and charges were brought against her for the introduction of contraband. My staff thus far is doing a great job. Everyone is coming together and everyone is doing what they can to enforce our policies and rules,” he said.

Torres assures the community that DOC remains dedicated to maintaining a zero-tolerance policy toward contraband and, with the recently passed contraband bill, the community can expect inmates and even officers who try to bring in contraband, to be held accountable.

“As we all know, with the contraband bill that was recently passed, there’s a lot of strict protocols in place moving forward, especially within DOC. Because of the new contraband bill, it gives us a lot more power to enforce rules regarding the smuggling of contraband into the facility. …Our facility recognizes the threat that contraband poses to the safety and security of our staff and inmates. We are dedicated to maintaining a zero-tolerance policy toward contraband and have implemented stringent protocols and looking at advanced technology options to detect and prevent its entry. Through ongoing staff training, random searches, rigorous screening processes, and regular facility-wide inspections, we are vigilant in our efforts to combat contraband from coming into our facility,” he said.

Torres adds that DOC continues to work with other law enforcement agencies to enhance contraband detection capabilities to ensure the safety of the inmates as well as officers.

“Additionally, we actively collaborate with law enforcement agencies…to enhance our detection capabilities and ensure accountability. It’s this collaboration and joint effort that’s going to keep our community safe and it starts here,” he said.

According to court documents, it was DOC Internal Affairs officer Lianna Quitugua who reported the matter to police last March 4. According to her, DOC officer Shaina Rios was doing 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, which resulted in a presumptive positive result for the presence of methamphetamine.

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 said she hid the Ziploc baggie in her underwear and noted that the officer who 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.