Woman doing weekend in Delco jail busted for fentanyl | News

MEDIA COURTHOUSE — A Ridley Park woman has been charged with possession of fentanyl after she reported for a weekend in custody at the county prison back in March.

Emily Dougherty, 25, of the 1000 block of Haverford Road, is facing one count possession of contraband – fentanyl, a second degree felony, as well as possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, both upgraded misdemeanor offenses.

“Bringing drugs into a correctional facility is extremely dangerous and puts the safety of corrections officers, staff, inmates and community at risk,” Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun Copeland said in announcing Dougherty’s arrest in a release Friday afternoon. “Those who attempt to sneak drugs into prison will be arrested and prosecuted for this felony.”

Dougherty was preliminarily arraigned on the charges on May 16. Her bail was set at 10 percent of $25,000, which she was unable to post, according to online court records.

According to information provided by the District Attorney’s Office, it was back on March 5 when Dougherty arrived at the county prison to serve 48 hours of a previously imposed weekend sentence. Prison staff received information that Dougherty was in possession of illegal contraband and removed Dougherty from her cell.

A search of Dougherty by a female correctional officer revealed that Dougherty had concealed multiple glassine bags containing suspected controlled substances in her vaginal cavity. The controlled substances were submitted to county Detective Brian Alexander who, in turn, submitted them to the Pennsylvania State Police lab.

“Forensic analysis revealed that the nine bags recovered from Emily Dougherty contained fentanyl and valeryl fentanyl,” the release states.

Dougherty’s preliminary hearing is listed for May 30 before Magisterial District Judge Wendy B. Roberts.