Detention Deputy Arrested For Bringing Tobacco and Drugs Into Jail

BAKERSFIELD — A Kern County Sheriff’s detention deputy is behind bars on Thursday after being arrested for smuggling contraband into jail.

2900 block of Dartmouth, Bakersfield — approximate location of deputy’s home

Leroy Martin Romero, a 50-year-old sheriff’s detention deputy at the Lerdo Detention Facility in northeast Bakersfield, was booked into the Kern County Jail Central Receiving Facility on charges of possession of methamphetamine, conspiracy, possession of stolen property, and participation in a criminal street gang.

His bail has been set at $90,000 and he has been placed on administrative leave.

According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, deputies from the Gang Suppression Section began to look into Romero’s activities several months ago after receiving a tip and evidence that he was bringing contraband into the facility for criminal street gang members.

Romero was taken into custody shortly after arriving to work at the detention facility at around 7 a.m. on Nov. 21.

During a search of his person, two packages of contraband tobacco were located.

Later that morning, deputies, with assistance from the California Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team, served a search warrant at Romero’s residence in the 2900 block of Dartmouth in northeast Bakersfield. During a search of the home, deputies located two packages of suspected methamphetamine totaling three grams and a stolen street sign.

The tobacco and suspected methamphetamine had been packaged in a manner consistent with methods used to smuggle contraband.

Read more:

KERO-TV: Kern County sheriffs detention deputy arrested for allegedly smuggling tobacco into jail

KBAK-TV: Kern County jail deputy accused of smuggling for gangsters