Chesapeake sheriff’s deputy charged with smuggling drugs into jail

Chesapeake — A deputy with the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office has been charged with smuggling drugs to an inmate in the city jail.

Justin C. Rodriguez, 57, faces two felony charges, including a conspiracy count, stemming from early January. Each count carries one to 10 years in prison.

An investigator with the Sheriff’s Office heard a deputy was planning to smuggle drugs into the city jail, Janelle Scott, spokeswoman for the office, wrote in an email. An investigation led to Rodriguez, a five-year veteran who worked in corrections, according to the office.

John Jelich, Rodriguez’s attorney, declined to comment Wednesday.

Rodriguez worked for the Sheriff’s Office from July 2015 until Jan. 9 this year, according to the city. He was arrested on the charges Jan. 11, according to court documents.

He is scheduled to appear in court April 28. Court documents don’t say what kind of drugs he’s accused of trying to smuggle.

Margaret Matray, 757-222-5216, margaret.matray@pilotonline.com