By Milan Simonich
Alamogordo Daily News
SANTA FE, N.M — Security at the state prison in Los Lunas was so lax that a television reporter was able to telephone an inmate.
Another TV reporter sent an email to the prison, and an employee then passed it along to the inmate. The state Department of Corrections on Thursday revealed the failings after an internal investigation.
”... Members of more than one Albuquerque news station were able to contact (inmate) Carlos Fierro by phone and email in an unauthorized manner. This is a serious security breach,” the department said in a statement.
Department executives said two administrative employees assisted two inmates in violating regulations on use of telephones, email and the fax machine.
The department would not identify the employees but said they are on leave and face disciplinary proceedings, including the possibility of being fired.
Also unidentified were the reporters and at least one attorney who communicated with Fierro outside the established prison guidelines.
Cristina Rodda, a spokeswoman for the department, said their names were withheld because they do not face charges.
Along with Fierro, the other inmate involved was Richard Savage.
The prison, formally named the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility, is for low- and medium-security inmates.
Inmates at jails and prisons can on occasion make collect calls in which the other person is billed. But in this case, an attorney and a reporter called a prison line, and then Fierro would get on the phone, Rodda said.
She said reporters are limited to contacting inmates by mail.
Fierra was found guilty of three prison infractions, including engaging in an unauthorized relationship with administrative staff.
Rodda said Savage used the fax machine and Fierro used the fax machine and the phone in administrative areas of the prison.
Both are being punished.
Fierro will lose 90 days of his good time, perhaps extending his projected release date to September. He is being moved to a different prison.
Savage’s punishment is loss of canteen privileges for 30 days.
A prison employee reported the security breach, triggering the investigation.
“Courage is one of our core values. I am confident that the majority of our employees will continue to have the courage to do the right thing, always,” said Gregg Marcantel, secretary of corrections.
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