A Stowe woman, Alisha Hunt, has been charged with attempting to sneak contraband to her boyfriend during his court appearance in downtown Pittsburgh. According to a TribLIVE report, Hunt delivered an envelope full of paperwork, suspected of being soaked with synthetic cannabinoids, to a third party outside Pittsburgh Municipal Court before her boyfriend's hearing.
The intended recipient of the drug-soaked documents was Justin Allen, who was in court facing charges related to contraband found earlier in his Allegheny County Jail cell. Allen repeatedly sought the envelope during the hearing, prompting suspicion from deputies. Upon inspection, authorities found the papers – described as a fictitious employment contract – stained with a substance, which led to Hunt's arrest. Hunt's actions may speak to a desperation or a naivete, her efforts to aid her boyfriend could cost her dearly in legal repercussions.
Further investigation revealed "phone calls, messages and video calls" exchanged between Hunt and Allen discussing plans about the paperwork. These conversations included "explicitly" descriptions of the employment information, which, according to TribLIVE, matched the documents seized by officers.
Hunt is currently held in Allegheny County Jail with a preliminary hearing set for July 3. She faces nine charges, including possession and delivery of drugs and criminal use of a communication facility. While the individual who acted as the intermediary for the documents has not been charged, the focus remains on Hunt's alleged deliberate intent to deliver the contraband. According to TribLIVE, Hunt's bail is set at $25,000. Allen's trial for the unrelated strip club shooting case is scheduled to begin on July 15.
Allegheny County Jail spokesman Jesse Geleynse, along with attorney Patrick Thomassey, representing Allen in the shooting case, have not provided further comments on Hunt's case. This incident underscores ongoing concerns about contraband in the justice system, as officials continue to grapple with creative, yet illegal methods of smuggling illicit substances into correctional facilities.
