CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — A New Bethlehem man faces drug and related charges after allegedly smuggling drugs into the Clarion County Courthouse for a female inmate who was scheduled for a court appearance.

According to court documents, criminal charges were filed against 28-year-old Joseph James Bruno, of New Bethlehem.

According to a criminal complaint, Clarion County Probation Officer Jay Kerle, notified police on November 17, 2016, that phone calls involving (a known female inmate) were intercepted, including a call to Joseph Bruno on November 16.

These calls led Officer Kerle to investigate further and view surveillance video from the Clarion County Courthouse. Kerle reported that surveillance shows “Bruno entering the third floor bathroom prior to (the known female) who was at the Clarion County Courthouse for a court appearance,” the complaint states.

The Clarion County Jail was then contacted and advised of the incident and “began to search inmates housed in the same block with (the known female). Suboxone, Heroin, tobacco, and Kratom were found on (the known female) and several other female prisoners,” the complaint indicates.

(The known female) “was interviewed and admitted that she had communicated via telephone from the Clarion County Jail to Bruno to facilitate him in obtaining controlled substances and placing them in the bathroom at the courthouse for her to retrieve. She advised that when she went to the bathroom, she located the contraband behind the garbage can. She admitted that it had been tobacco and three Suboxone strips, which she secreted in her vagina. (The known female) admitted to providing some of the Suboxone to two other inmates,” according to the complaint.

Other known inmates were interviewed and corroborated that (the known female) had smuggled controlled substances into the jail, including Heroin, Suboxone, and Methamphetamine, the complaint continues.

“Bruno was interviewed and admitted to placing Heroin, Suboxone, Kratom, Methamphetamine, and tobacco in the bathroom of the Clarion County Courthouse for (the known female) to retrieve while she was there for a court hearing,” the complaint states.

Based on the investigation, a criminal complaint was filed against Bruno; he was arraigned at 2:25 a.m. on November 18 on the following charges:

• Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony (three counts)
• Conspiracy — Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony (three counts)
• Possession Controlled Substance, Contraband/Inmate, Felony 2 (three counts)
• Conspiracy — Possession Controlled Substance, Contraband/Inmate, Felony 2 (three counts)
• Intentional Possession Controlled Substance By Person Not Registered, Misdemeanor (three counts)

Unable to post $55,000.00 monetary bail, he was lodged in the Clarion County Jail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. on November 29 in front of Judge Duane L. Quinn.

The name of the known female inmate was not included because charges have not been filed against her.

The case remains under investigation.