LUMBERTON CORRECTIONS OFFICER FACES DRUG CHARGES

LUMBERTON - A corrections officer was charged Thursday with drug offenses.

Robert Edward Woodell was arrested at the Lumberton Correctional Facility
on Legend Road

Robeson County sheriff's Sgt. J.W. Jacobs said Woodell was charged after a
four-month investigation regarding alleged drug sales at the prison.

Woodell was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver
marijuana, possession of controlled substances on the premises of a prison,
possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a vehicle for storage of
controlled substances.

Woodell is 26 and lives in the Saddletree community near Lumberton. He was
jailed, and bail was set at $51,000.

Agents arrested Woodell about 3:45 a.m. They found about four ounces of
marijuana in individual plastic bags in his car.

Emilio Pagan, superintendent at the prison, said Woodell has worked there
since August 2000. He was a food service officer who supervised inmates in
the kitchen. Pagan said Woodell no longer works for the state Department of
Correction. He would not say whether Woodell was resigned or was fired.