Criminal Justice
Defense Lawyer Accused of Smuggling Pot to Inmates at Chicago Jail
Posted Jan 16, 2009, 12:37 pm CST
By Martha Neil
An Illinois lawyer was arrested Wednesday in a undercover operation at a Chicago courthouse and has been accused by prosecutors of smuggling marijuana to inmates in holding cells at the Cook County Jail.
Dave Compton, 60, met with an inmate's girlfriend inside a criminal courthouse at 26th Street and California Avenue on Wednesday, where the attorney allegedly participated in "a transaction" with the girlfriend, Angela Bell, who was wearing a wire, and an undercover officer, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.
Prosecutors say Compton delivered marijuana to inmates in the jail's holding cell multiple times after getting it from Bell, the newspaper reports. At least once, Bell allegedly smuggled marijuana into the courthouse at 26th and Cal in her underwear before passing it on to Compton. The claimed smuggling scheme was uncovered after jail officials caught an inmate with marijuana and loose tobacco he said he got from the attorney.
Compton has been charged with possession of cannabis, delivery of cannabis and bringing contraband into a penal institution and is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail.