Lanham

ELKINS — A Randolph County woman faces a felony charge after allegedly having Xanax in her pants while being taken into Tygart Valley Regional Jail.

Niketa Elaine Lynn Lanham, 41, of Huttonsville, is charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance in a correctional facility, a felony. She is currently being held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond.

According to the criminal complaint, filed by Trooper R.K. Stewart with the West Virginia State Police, on April 7, Cpt. D.M. Brock of the West Virginia State Police Marlinton Detachment arrived at Tygart Valley Regional Jail with Lanham, who he arrested earlier that day.

Upon arrival, jail staff conducted a search of Lanham and allegedly discovered a waxy paper with approximately four white rectangular pills, “which are consistent with the controlled substance ‘Xanax,'” the complaint states. This contraband was reportedly found when Lanham was changing into her orange, state-issued uniform. Staff advised that the waxy paper allegedly fell onto the floor when Lanham removed her pants. The contraband was then secured by staff.

On May 4, Stewart was assigned to investigate the incident from April 7 and received a report of the incident from jail staff, the complaint states. On June 1, Stewart obtained the confiscated contraband from the jail and placed it into “temporary evidence” at the West Virginia State Police Elkins Detachment.

A preliminary hearing for Lanham has been scheduled for June 16 in Randolph County Magistrate Court.