Jail GED Instructor Arrested on Charges of Promoting Contraband

By Roberta Cantrell
BSN Editor

A Martin County woman who was a contracted GED instructor at the Greenup County Detention Center is accused of using a classroom book to pass inmates a Mother’s Day card containing 19 Suboxone strips, according to a criminal complaint filed in Greenup County District Court.

Crystal Hazlett, 45, of Inez, was arrested Thursday, Aug. 6, by Martin County Sheriff’s Deputy J.C. Kirk, after a criminal complaint sworn by Greenup County Detention Center Lt. Elizabeth Lucas, alleged the exchange of the strips Monday, Aug. 3 during a GED class inside the jail.

In the complaint Lucas stated she seen a pink piece of paper tucked into the waistband of an inmate’s pants and reviewed surveillance footage to determine where it came from.

According to the complaint, it was reported that a video of the incidents that took place showed Hazlett entering Room 121 carrying a red book before inmates arrived for their scheduled class. As Hazlett flipped through the book, a pink card could be seen between its pages, Lucas reported.

One inmate then picked up the book, opened it slightly and allowed the card to fall into his lap before concealing it in his waistband, the complaint states.

The inmates later moved to the detention center library to continue instruction. At approximately 2:53 p.m., Lucas allegedly saw an inmate pass an object beneath a table to another inmate.

Lucas ordered Deputy Jailer Grizzle to conduct strip searches of the four inmates who had attended the class.

The complaint states the search turned up a pink Mother’s Day card containing 19 Suboxone strips wrapped in clear plastic and tape and alleges that Hazlett knowingly introduced dangerous contraband into the detention center and knowingly and unlawfully distributed the Suboxone to inmates.

“We have a zero-tolerance policy for anyone who compromises the safety of our facility,” Greenup County Jailer Larry Pancake said. “Thanks to the diligent work of Lt. Lucas, Chief Robert Senters and jail staff, we were able to quickly intercept those illicit substances and protect both our staff and the inmate population.”

Hazlett was immediately terminated from her position following her arrest.

Officials said the investigation began after the jail received information that prohibited substances were being brought into the facility and investigators determined Hazlett allegedly used her access as an instructor to bypass normal security screening.

Her charges include first-degree promoting contraband and second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

She was lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.