PITTSBURGH (AP) — A former assistant public defender from a neighboring county has been charged with bringing marijuana to a client in a western Pennsylvania jail.
Charges were reported Tuesday against Michael Yagercik, 32, of Ambridge and a warrant was issued for his arrest
Officials at the Beaver County public defender's office said Yagercik no longer works there.
Police said Yagercik brought a white envelope containing tobacco, rolling papers and 21 grams of marijuana into the county jail for a client, who is a convicted cocaine dealer, on May 15.
Detectives said they were tipped off by a confidential informant, who claims Yagercik was paid $500 to bring the drugs into the jail.
According to police, Yagercik is accused of sneaking marijuana to other clients inside the Allegheny County Jail, as well as another jail in Ohio.
According to the criminal complaint, Yagercik was paid $1,000 to bring the drugs into the jail in Ohio.
Dominique Moody was surprised to hear anyone could sneak something like drugs into the jail.
“You have to go through detectors, doors that are locked that they have to open for you and they search everything. I’m surprised because you can’t take anything in there,” Moody said. “They trust these attorneys so much, they just let them walk through. That’s probably why.”
WPXI
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