MEN'S COLONY PRISON GUARD FACES CHARGES OF SUPPLYING DRUGS TO INMATE

SAN LUIS OBISPO - A California Men's Colony correctional officer is
expected to be charged with supplying illegal drugs to an inmate, a
prosecutor said this week.

Wilfred Rivera, a 14-year veteren at CMC, was arrested last week on
suspicion of possessing controlled substances at a prison, a felony
that carries a maximum four-year sentence.

Deputy District Attorney Lee Cunningham said that he anticipates
charging Rivera with conspiracy to furnish drugs to an inmate before
the correctional officer is arraigned next week.

Supplying illegal drugs to a prison inmate is a felony punishable by
two, four, or six years in prison.

CMC investigators are still interviewing witnesses and Cunningham
declined to detail evidence in the case.

He said the charge against Rivera will likely allege that he sup-
plied drugs to only one inmate "because that's what I'm going to be
able to prove."

"The information was that this has been going on for several months,
but that it just came to light in February."

Rivera, who posted a $15,000 bond within hours of being booked at
County Jail last week, remains on paid administrative leave from the
job he's held since March 1985.

Cunningham didn't identify the inmate involved.