NORTHAMPTON — The inmate and his girlfriend may not have known it at the time, but their alleged scheme was foiled before it was even set into motion.
In a series of “encrypted” phone calls between Jamie L. Smith and her incarcerated boyfriend, Kevin Laplaca, who’s at the Hampshire Jail and House of Correction, authorities — who were listening in on their conversations — say the two devised a plan for Smith to smuggle heroin into the jail, court documents show.
Now, Smith, 35, of Wilder, Vermont, is charged with possession of heroin and conspiracy to violate drug laws. She pleaded not guilty to both charges Wednesday in Northampton District Court.
On March 11, according to authorities, Smith arrived at the jail for her scheduled one-hour visit with Laplaca. At some point during the visit, according to a police report, they began to argue. She left the jail “abruptly.” Laplaca called her several times, insisting she return to the jail, otherwise he’d be “jumped,” the report states.
That weekend, Laplaca continued to pester Smith on the phone.
If she didn’t follow through, he told her, “anything that happens to me is on you.” Finally, Smith agreed — through further “encrypted conversations,” according to the report — to again visit Laplaca.
She arrived at the jail Monday and was greeted by state troopers and members of the anti-crime task force out of the Northwestern district attorney’s office.
Authorities interviewed Smith in a private room where she allegedly told them she had concealed a “small square package” of heroin, 10 bags worth, inside her right pant leg. The drugs appeared to be inside a surgical glove, the report says.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.