PRISON GUARD SENTENCED FOR TRYING TO SMUGGLE DRUGS INTO PRISON

MISSOULA -- A former Montana State Prison guard was sentenced Friday
to three years and one month in prison for trying to smuggle
marijuana, heroin and methamphetamine into the prison. District Judge
Donald Molloy also ordered Michael Short, 50, of Anaconda, to forfeit
$4,500 in cash, his pickup truck and two guns.

Short pleaded guilty to attempted possession with intent to
distribute marijuana, heroin and methamphetamine, and to being a drug
user in possession of a firearm.

Prosecutors said they learned from a confidential informant that
Short had been smuggling contraband, such as tobacco, into the prison
and that he intended to start smuggling illegal drugs into the facility.

Short was arrested in July 2005, after the second of two sting
operations in which he agreed to smuggle drugs into the prison in
exchange for money.

In the first, Short picked up a package of what he believed was a
quarter-pound of marijuana and a half-ounce of crystal meth and
delivered it to the confidential source at the prison. A few days
later, Short agreed to deliver a package of marijuana, meth and
heroin to the prison. He was arrested after receiving the package
from someone posing as the brother of the confidential source. Court
records said Short admitted smuggling tobacco and what he believed
were drugs into the prison. He also admitted he had used marijuana
for about 30 years.