Three charged in plan to smuggle drugs into Hernando County Jail

BROOKSVILLE — Three people, including a Hernando County Jail nurse and an inmate, were arrested Friday in connection with an attempt to bring prescription drugs inside the jail.

The nurse, Brett Melton, 40, of Spring Hill, is facing charges of possession and trafficking a controlled substance, according to an arrest report.

The inmate, Michael Francis Lawson, 30, was arrested on a charge of conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance. Also arrested was Christina Trough, 30, of Spring Hill, on a charge of conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance.

Authorities said jail security officers learned from an inmate that a meeting had been set for Thursday evening in the parking lot of Publix at Barclay Avenue and Spring Hill Drive, where Trough was to give Melton 50 oxycodone tablets.

Deputies on Friday searched Melton's vehicle at the county jail parking lot and found prescription drugs, including oxycodone, methadone and Xanax, that they say he intended to give to inmates.

Based on information subsequently provided by Melton, deputies on Friday arrested Trough.