Woman arrested for sneaking drugs into Monterey County jail

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is investigating how drugs are getting into the County Jail.

It comes after drugs were discovered by a deputy on May 13 in strips hidden inside mail addressed to an inmate.

Those strips tested positive for a prescription drug called suboxone. That prompted an investigation into the suspect, Kayla Potter, 31.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, a search in July found that Potter was involved in the mailing of drugs and also discovered the drug in Potter’s home.

Potter, who the Sheriff’s Office calls the primary suspect, was arrested for bringing a controlled substance into jail, possession and purchase for sale of a controlled substance, and selling a controlled substance in prison.

Twenty-nine year-old Vanessa Lopez was arrested at Potter’s home for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Twenty-six year-old Jake Osborne was also arrested for possession of narcotic controlled substance.

The arrest comes after recent issues in the jail involving a series of fentanyl overdoses.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office says they are tracking down all leads of smuggling into the County Jail.