When you visit an inmate at the San Joaquin County Jail, it’s probably best not to bring drugs with you into the facility.
Nicole Michelle, Esparza, 31, was arrested on Sunday when she was caught with more than 54 grams of marijuana that she had brought into the facility during a contact visit with Davoy Sigala, 33.
Sigala, who was being held without bail for vehicle theft and has a history of vehicle theft, was being housed at the jail’s honor farm and will face additional charges stemming from the incident.
Esparza, who was caught with the drugs inside of the visiting room, will face felony charges of bringing drugs into a jail facility and conspiracy to commit a crime. She is currently being held on $115,000 bail.
Both women will appear in Department 1 of the Manteca Branch of the San Joaquin County Superior Court today at 1:25 p.m. to answer to the charges that have been filed against them.
Security of the jail and the prevention of drugs from making their way into the general population appears to be a priority under new Sherriff Pat Withrow, who just recently installed security lighting at the honor farm and took other steps to prevent contraband from getting inside.
Sunday’s arrest was the second in the past month that people have been caught trying to bring drugs into the San Joaquin County Jail.
In April, two women were arrested bringing contraband into the facility, and both were found to have even more in their vehicles waiting in the parking lot.
Crystal Ann Stevensen was caught with 2.2 grams of methamphetamine and 2.1 grams of THC that she was attempting to bring into the jail facility – a felony. When patrol deputies responded and searched her vehicle in the parking lot they discovered an additional 8 grams of methamphetamine and 1.6 grams of THC. She was booked in the San Joaquin County Jail where she made bond later that day.
Patricia Anne Burton, 54, was also found to be in possession of narcotics that she was attempting to bring in the jail facility – holding a combined total of 8.7 grams of methamphetamine and marijuana. When patrol deputies responded to the scene and searched her vehicle, they found a scale, a meth pipe, unused plastic bags, 49.6 additional grams of methamphetamine, 50.2 additional grams of marijuana, and 0.8 grams of an unknown white substance. She was taken into custody on charges of possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance in a jail or prison facility – all of which are felonies.
To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.
