Teaching Assistant Allegedly Smuggled Heroin, Cellphones Into San Quentin

SAN QUENTIN (CBS SF) -- An assistant teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District has been charged with smuggling cellphones and heroin into San Quentin State Prison for a death row inmate Thursday.

Teri Nichols, 47, visited condemned inmate Bruce Millsap, who is serving eight death sentences plus 200 years on death row for killing eight people, San Quinton State Prison Lt. Samuel Robinson said.

The prison's Investigative Services Unit was in the main visiting unit on an unrelated matter Thursday when they saw ziplock-style plastic bags in a trashcan in the visiting module occupied only by Nichols and Millsap, Robinson said.

The packaging was not consistent with any items sold in vending machines, and Millsap was stripped and searched but no items were found, Robinson said.

Nichols consented to a search in a private room, and she admitted bringing contraband into the visiting room, Robinson said.

Nichols surrendered 18 cellphones, 18 phone chargers, two unidentified blue pills and 83.96 grams of heroin she had hidden in her clothing, according to Robinson.

She was taken to the Marin County Sheriff's Office and was booked into Marin County Jail, Robinson said.

Nichols was charged with a felony count of bringing contraband or drug paraphernalia into a prison and a misdemeanor count of possession with intent to deliver a wireless device to an inmate, Assistant Marin County District Attorney Barry Borden said.

Nichols posted bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 13 in Marin County Superior Court.

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