Corrections officer accused of bringing drugs into Rockview

A corrections officer at the Rockview state prison was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker for allegedly bringing drugs into the prison.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Rodney Norval Stahl, 32, of Milton, attempted to bring synthetic marijuana, oxycodone, tramadol and laprazolam into the institution on Aug. 4.

State police at Rockview say the security office at Rockview received an anonymous tip that Stahl was bringing drugs to the prison. In an attempt to catch him, numerous staff members were selected to be randomly searched on Aug. 4.

During this search, a K-9 detected drugs on Stahl. The drugs were allegedly concealed in a “clear plastic vacuum bag” in his right boot.

According to the court documents , “when the package was removed from the boot, Stahl advised the package contained various drugs.”

Stahl had worked for the state Department of Corrections for a year and a half before the incident.

In an interview between Stahl and police, Stahl admitted that he “traveled to Philadelphia where he was given a package containing the drugs.” He also admitted that he paid for the drugs, later opening the package at his house.

He also allegedly told police that there was cocaine in the package for his own personal use.

The contents in the clear plastic bag found in Stahl’s boot were sent to the Harrisburg Regional Laboratory to be analyzed.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the lab “confirmed the presence of tramadol, synthetic marijuana, alprazolam, buprenorphine and oxycodone.”

Stahl posted bail, which was set by Gillette-Walker at $15,000. He faces 11 felony counts.

His preliminary hearing will be held on Jan. 13 at the Centre County courthouse.

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 8:34 PM with the headline "Corrections officer accused of bringing drugs into Rockview."