TRIAL BEGINS FOR CMC GUARD

Man Allegedly Sold Cocaine, Pot To An Inmate

A guard at the California Men's Colony faces prison time if a jury decides
that he is guilty of dealing drugs to a CMC inmate.

Jurors began hearing evidence Tuesday in the trial of Wilfred Eric Rivera,
a 14-year veteran at CMC, and Son Kim Nguyen, a CMC inmate.

Rivera is charged with smuggling a controlled substance into a prison.
Nguyen is charged with conspiracy.

The District Attorney's Office said Rivera brought marijuana and cocaine
into the prison and provided it to Nguyen. Deputy District Attorney Lee
Cunningham told jurors that Nguyen kept the cocaine for himself and sold
the marijuana to fellow prisoners.

During his opening argument, Cunningham said multiple prisoners witnessed
transactions between the guard and the inmate. One witness, he said, told
authorities he once witnessed Nguyen give Rivera $100 for drugs.

Rivera allegedly received money, jewelry and watches in exchange for drugs.

The transactions occurred on multiple occasions, according to the
prosecution. On Feb. 22, security officers at the prison recorded with a
video camera hidden in a storage room an alleged transaction between the
two suspects. The next day, Rivera was confronted by prison security
officers. When security inspected Rivera's wallet, they allegedly found
half a gram of cocaine -- roughly $50 worth of the drug.

Meanwhile, security officers allegedly found two holes in the walls of
Nguyen's cell. Authorities believe that the prisoner had been hiding the
drugs in those holes and concealing them with paint.

Cunningham's witnesses include five current and former CMC prisoners who
allegedly witnessed the transactions. Three of the witnesses have since
been paroled.

If convicted, both defendants could get a maximum four years in prison.

Rivera, who became a guard in 1985, posted a $15,000 bond shortly after his
arrest. After charges were announced, he was immediately placed on paid
administrative leave.