El Paso woman faces felony charges for taking drugs to son in prison

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) -- An El Paso woman tried to take drugs into a New Mexico prison, according to court documents ABC-7 obtained.

Sixty-six-year-old Tommie Kay Cooper has been charged with possession of a controlled substance; bringing contraband onto prison grounds; conspiracy to commit bringing contraband onto prison grounds and tampering with evidence. These are felony charges.

On Friday, an officer with the New Mexico State Police received a report of contraband into a prison at the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility near Las Cruces.

Documents said Cooper tried to dispose of the contraband as authorities detained her. She allegedly had concealed needles, strips of suboxone and methamphetamine. Documents said she hid the contraband in her underwear.

Cooper told authorities she conspired with her son, who was incarcerated, and an unknown man outside the facility, according to documents. The group conspired to take contraband into the prison and transfer the contraband to Cooper's son, investigators wrote.

Documents said the unknown man gave Cooper the suboxone. She allegedly admitted to trying to get rid of the evidence by throwing it away to avoid prosecution.

Authorities transported Cooper to the Dona Ana County Detention Center for incarceration. She was booked without bond.