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  Home Page » News » Former Sheriff Deputy In Montezuma County Facing Drug Charges

Former Sheriff deputy in Montezuma County facing drug charges

Allegedly smuggled narcotics to inmates

by Steve Grazier
Cortez Journal A former Montezuma County Sheriff's Office deputy is facing a half-dozen criminal charges that accuse him of providing narcotics to jail inmates.

Craig James Morrison of Cortez was served a judicial summons last week to appear for a filing of charges hearing at 9 a.m. Aug. 12 in Montezuma County Court. According to the complaint, he is scheduled to be advised on six potential charges, including five felonies, for allegedly smuggling drugs to prisoners inside the county detention facility.

"By all accounts, he was a good deputy who came to a fork in the road and went the wrong way," Sheriff Gerald Wallace said. "We're considering this a very serious situation."

Incidents involving the former deputy allegedly occurred between Feb. 1 and April 6 at the Montezuma County Detention Center. Wallace said Morrison told him that some inmates were threatening to "beat up" his wife and young child if he did not supply them with drugs.

Morrison could not be reached for comment at the address listed on the July 8 court summons.

Felony charges likely to be brought against Morrison by the 22nd Judicial District Attorney's Office include conspiracy to manufacture or distribute a controlled substance, introducing contraband in the first degree, introducing contraband in the second degree and two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.

Morrison also will be charged with first-degree official misconduct, which is a misdemeanor.

Two jail inmates and a third person also face charges related to the incident with Morrison, said Wallace, who wasn't sure where or how the former deputy might have acquired the drugs. The names of the three individuals allegedly involved with Morrison were not immediately available.

The sheriff's office is taking steps to ensure any incidents similar to Morrison's will not occur again. Citing security concerns, Wallace declined to offer specifics about the ongoing efforts. He also declined to say what type of drugs Morrison allegedly brought into the jail.

The sheriff said that Morrison admitted to bringing in narcotics to inmates after the acts were reported to jail officials. After his admission, Morrison was immediately placed on unpaid administrative leave, Wallace said. He was terminated from employment once the Colorado Bureau of Investigation concluded its investigation about three weeks ago.