Officials with the Barton County Sheriff’s Office said they uncovered a plan to smuggle methamphetamine into the county jail.
Detectives said 47-year-old Craig Gowdy, of Great Bend, was recruited to smuggle contraband into the jail to distribute amongst other inmates. Gowdy was serving weekends to fulfill his sentence
On Friday, detectives and jail staff found suspected methamphetamine that had been sewn into the seam of Gowdy’s undergarments when he reported in. Detectives arrested Gowdy and he was booked on charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and trafficking contraband into a correctional facility. He is being held on a $50,000 bond.
Another inmate, 36-year-old Matthew Cooley, also of Great Bend, was also arrested and booked on the same charges. Cooley was being held on two probation violation charges and now has additional trafficking and distribution charges. He now has an additional $50,000 bond.
Authorities said they believe there were other co-conspirators and will be seeking arrest warrants.
