A licensed vocational nurse working inside the San Jacinto County Jail was arrested on felony drug charges after a sheriff’s office K9 search of her office, Sheriff Sam Houston said in an Oct. 5 media release.
Investigators received information on Oct. 3 that a nurse working inside the jail was allegedly bringing illegal drugs into the facility, according to the sheriff’s office. The K9 Division searched her office that day and a dog alerted to the presence of a suspected illegal substance, the office said.
Deputies identified the nurse as 43-year-old Natasha Ann Roach of Point Blank. Texas Board of Nursing records show Roach has held an LVN license since April 14, 2009, and the license remains in current status as of Oct. 5 with multistate compact privileges, meaning she is authorized to practice as a licensed nurse in other Nurse Licensure Compact states as well. Roach is charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and felony introduction of a prohibited substance into a correctional facility. Houston said the investigation is ongoing.
“It is bad enough when inmates attempt to bring illegal drugs or other prohibited substances into our jail, but when someone entrusted to work inside this facility is accused of doing the same thing, it is deeply upsetting,” Houston said in the statement.
The charges are allegations. Roach is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Sources: San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office Facebook media release, Montgomery County Police Reporter, Texas Board of Nursing license verification.