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More arrests possible in Strafford County Jail drug probe

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Bryant Shipman (Courtesy/Union Leader)

DOVER - The Rochester man charged with attempting to smuggle drugs into the Strafford County Jail where he worked as a corrections officer waived his arraignment on Thursday, pleading not guilty on all charges.

Bryant Shipman, 25, who had worked at the jail almost two years, is being held on $35,000 cash bail that will be converted to personal recognizance as soon as he meets conditions for release, which include giving up any guns he may own.

Until that time he is being held in a secure cell away from the prisoners he monitored.

Shipman was intercepted by jail personnel as he arrived for work around 2 p.m. on Wednesday. Officials estimate he was carrying $2,000-$5,000 of what is believed to be fentanyl or heroin and cocaine.

Shipman had access to all areas of the jail, but was predominantly stationed in two of the pods where general population inmates were housed.

County Attorney Tom Velardi, who is personally prosecuting the case, said more arrests may be forthcoming as a probe that began in January continues.

Velardi also explained that Shipman's high initial bail was set because his deployment with the Air National Guard was imminent. Those deployment orders have been rescinded, however, and since he has lived in the community for a number of years, he is no longer viewed as a flight risk, Velardi noted.

This arrest on Tuesday was as a result of a joint investigation conducted by the Strafford County Sheriff's Office, Strafford County Department of Corrections and federal partnerships with the United States Marshals Service and ICE.

Shipman, who is now on unpaid leave from the jail, is charged with two counts of possession of heroin and/or fentanyl with intent to deliver, possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and bringing controlled substances into the House of Corrections.

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