(La Porte, IN) - Bond has been posted by a prison dental assistant charged with trying to smuggle drugs and tobacco into Westville Correctional Facility.

 

According to court documents, a hard object was felt between the legs of Jill Konieczny during a routine pat-down search while reporting for work at the prison on November 6th.

 

Konieczny, 43, allegedly claimed the object was a maxi pad because she was in her monthly menstrual cycle. However, upon further investigation, the object found taped between her legs contained a large amount of methamphetamine and close to three ounces of tobacco.

 

Experts said the 147 grams of methamphetamine in her possession was enough to meet the needs of a single user for at least a year.

 

Initially, the Michigan City woman was being held in the La Porte County Jail on a $50,000 bond. Konieczny's charges were filed in the LaPorte Circuit Court where she, following an initial hearing Tuesday before Judge Tom Alevizos, posted bond.

 

She could face anywhere from a 10 to 30-year sentence on a Level 2 felony charge of Dealing in Methamphetamine and one to six years on a Level 5 felony charge of Trafficking With an Inmate.

 

Her trial date has been set for July 30th.