Police: Two smuggle contraband into Erie County jail

PERKINS TWP. — Police said a kitchen employee at the Erie County jail worked with a woman outside the facility to smuggle in contraband for an inmate.Anthony Watson, 55, of the 500 block of Taylor St., was charged with third-degree felony conveying drugs into a jail and first-degree misdemeanor drug possession. Tara Nickles, 31, of the 300 block of Bellevue Ave., with third-degree felony conveying drugs into jail.Watson is an employee of Aramark, a food service company, which the jail contracts with, according to Erie County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Jared Oliver. Watson worked as a supervisor in the jail's kitchen.In April 2017, police located contraband tobacco inside the jail. An investigation led the sheriff's office to an inmate in the jail, who deputies found with a strip of Suboxone — used to treat opiate addiction — hidden underneath a wristband, Oliver said.The investigation led to Watson, who allegedly admitted to smuggling the items into the jail, according to Oliver.Police learned Watson would, on his lunch break, meet with the inmate's girlfriend, Nickles. Nickles would give Watson containers of coffee and milk with the contraband items hidden inside, Oliver said.In exchange, Nickles allegedly paid Watson cash, $20 for each transaction, Oliver said.The pair made these types of handoffs "numerous times" between April and May 2017, according to Oliver.Nickles apparently has a prescription for Suboxone, Oliver said.Watson was booked into the jail Jan. 19 on a $22,000 bond. Nickles was booked into the jail Jan. 22 on a $20,000 bond.Both have since been released on bond from the jail, according to jail records.More Erie County Sheriff's Office articlesReach reporter Brandon Addeo at brandonaddeo@sanduskyregister.com, follow him on Twitter @BrandonAddeo and follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterAnthony Watson (left) and Tara Nickles (right) were both charged in a scheme to bring contraband items into the Erie County jail.