PRISON OFFICER PLANNED TO SMUGGLE IN DRUGS, AUTHORITIES SAY

FORT PIERCE - A state prison officer is charged with planning to
smuggle drugs into Martin Correctional Institution north of Indiantown
in exchange for payments from inmates, according to arrest records
released Tuesday.

Ted Linden Vetovitz, 42, of Okeechobee was arrested Monday when he met
with an undercover Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent who was
supposed to pay him $2,000 to deliver 2 ounces of cocaine and 4 ounces
of marijuana to an unnamed inmate at MCI.

Vetovitz was held at the St. Lucie County jail Tuesday on $170,000
bail on charges of official misconduct, trafficking in cocaine and
possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

FDLE spokeswoman Susie Murphy said an inmate went to authorities when
Vetovitz made the offer to get drugs or alcohol, and Department of
Corrections officials asked the Inspector General and FDLE to
investigate.

No evidence was found to indicate Vetovitz had actually brought any
contraband into the prison, but officials expect to hear from more
inmates as word of the arrest circulates, Murphy said.

Vetovitz was hired by the state in 1998 and has worked at MCI the
entire time with the exception of a couple of weeks at Indian River
Correctional, records show. Corrections officials said they have begun
the process of suspending or firing Vetovitz.

Murphy said no other officers were implicated and no inmates are
facing any charges at this stage of the investigation.

Martin Correctional houses various custody levels of male inmates,
including many who are serving lengthy terms for violent felonies.