PORT ANGELES — A $1,000 bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Port Angeles resident charged in an alleged scheme to smuggle drugs into the Clallam County jail.
Jason Jay Roy, 47, failed to appear Friday for his Superior Court arraignment on four drug charges that grew from an unsuccessful plan authorities said he and his former girlfriend discussed during two phone calls while he was an inmate.
Stephanie Deon Dawkins, 32, of Port Angeles has been charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, heroin, and intent to deliver a controlled substance, fentanyl, a synthetic opioid.
Dawkins has been released on her personal recognizance pending her Aug. 9 trial. A status hearing is set for Thursday.
Roy was charged July 3 with two counts of attempted possession of a controlled substance, for which he could receive up to 10 years in prison, and two counts of attempted possession of a controlled substance by a prisoner, which could net him 364 days on each charge.
According to the complaint, between May 11-13, Roy allegedly committed “an act that was a substantial step toward commission” of the crimes.
Dawkins, Roy’s former girlfriend, allegedly conspired with Roy to deliver 10 grams of heroin, a fentanyl patch, chewing tobacco and other items to an area Roy had access to while he worked on the chain gang outside the jail.
A corrections deputy found the items on the ground May 13 near the chain-gang trailer at the county road department shop in the 1000 block of Lauridsen Boulevard, according to a probable cause statement.
The can of chewing tobacco had a “J,” a heart and a “U” scratched on it.
Roy was assigned to the chain gang May 13.
“And it’s there underneath the trailer. Did you tell somebody?” Dawkins told Roy on May 13, according to their recorded conversation from the jail.
“It’s like right there underneath at the trailer. You’ll be able to see it; it landed perfect,” Dawkins assured him.
Dawkins’ notebook contained chain gang schedules, authorities said.
Roy was due to be released June 7 on a drug-related felony bench warrant.
Instead, on June 7, Judge Brent Basden set $50,000 bail for Roy on drug charges.
Four days later, Judge Lauren Erickson released Roy after determining the charges that the prosecuting attorney’s office originally wanted to file against him did not apply to the case.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@ peninsuladailynews.com.