(Westville, IN) - A program coordinator at Westville Correctional Facility has now been accused of trying to smuggle synthetic marijuana cigarettes into the prison in a wig she had been wearing.

 

Elizabeth Malstaff, 62, has been charged in LaPorte Circuit Court with Level 5 Felony Trafficking with an Inmate.

 

According to court documents, the LaPorte woman raised the suspicions of prison security officers when they felt a “hard object” between her legs during a pat down search on December 7th at the main gate. Malstaff explained the object was allegedly two pads taped together to absorb urine because the medication she takes caused her to lose control of her bladder. She then declined to grant permission for a strip search and body scan, the latter akin to an x-ray scan, even after being informed that prison workers are required to comply with such requests.

 

About three hours later, Malstaff was forced to remove her undergarments after prison security obtained a search warrant.  However, a maxi pad retrieved from her mid-section contained no contraband. Malstaff was then reportedly asked to remove her wig, but she only pulled it back far enough to expose the top of her head. She then removed the wig completely from her head at the request of prison security, all the while giggling and revealing “It’s all there,” court records disclosed.

 

Authorities said the wig contained 59 synthetic marijuana cigarettes along with rolling papers. The joints were packaged separately in bundles containing anywhere from two to eight of the illicit cigarettes.

 

During further questioning, Malstaff asked if her arrest would have any impact on her retirement benefits since she was planning to retire soon from the prison. She was then advised to contact an advisor with the Indiana Department of Correction to have her concerns addressed.

 

Malstaff was held in the La Porte County Jail until posting a $1,500 bond on Tuesday, and could now face anywhere from a one to six-year sentence.