By Rummana Hussain
Chicago Sun-Times
COOK COUNTY, Ill. — A Cook County jail guard who helped smuggle marijuana into the cell of the man charged in the infamous Bucktown baseball bat attack was sentenced to 30 months probation earlier this week.
Jerome Prusa, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of official misconduct for the June incident before Cook County Judge Joseph Claps last month, court records show.
Claps sentenced Prusa this week and also ordered the Westchester man to pay $500 in fines, perform 10 days of community service and undergo random drug tests.
Unbeknownst to Prusa, the sheriff’s office was conducting an undercover sting in the jail this summer when Heriberto Viramontes’ girlfriend asked a female officer posing as a visitor to make sure the drugs were delivered to Viramontes.
Prusa, who was overseeing the room, then unlocked the doors, letting the undercover officer into a secured part of the jail to leave the marijuana, prosecutors said.
Prusa also allowed the undercover officer to leave another stash of marijuana and cigarettes she had brought in a pre-arranged attempt to smuggle contraband under his watch, authorities said.
Viramontes and his former girlfriend, Marcy Cruz, 26, are accused of severely beating and robbing Chicagoan Stacy Jurich and Irish exchange student Natasha McShane on April 23, 2010.
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