Two Charged with Smuggling Drugs into Clay County Jail

The charge of conspiracy to distribute narcotics comes with a maximum 20-year prison sentence.

MOORHEAD, MN (KVRR) – Two men are each facing up to twenty years in prison after allegedly being caught smuggling narcotics into the Clay County Jail.

Jack Halvorson and Loren Smith stand accused of sneaking suboxone into the jail for sale and distribution amongst fellow inmates.

The charging documents state suspicion arose when inmates in Smith’s orbit began testing positive for the drug.

Halvorson was serving weekends in jail following a diversion agreement through Clay / Becker Drug Court.

Clay County Attorney Brian Melton says that Halvorson abusing that system to get illegal substances into the jail is one reason why his office has distanced itself from that program.

“We certainly don’t want drug dealers as part of Drug Court. I think that’s one of the problems, and why we’ve pulled ourselves back,” he said.

“These two individuals really should have never been in drug court. They were people that had already violated several times, and there just was no accountability.”

Melton added that his office is ready to bring cases against both men to trial if necessary.