On March 12, 2026, Clay County Sheriff's Detective N. Tougas was informed that an individual was bringing Suboxone into the Clay County Jail. Suboxone is a Schedule III controlled substance. It was learned that on March 10, 2026, a Clay County Corrections Officer was working in the Wild Rice Unit of the Clay County Jail when they heard yelling coming from the unit. The CO spoke with Loren Smith (hereinafter "Smith), an inmate, who stated that another inmate, D. S., owed him something and was not giving it to him.
Later, the CO observed another inmate, D. T., exhibiting odd behavior. Smith then requested new shoes from the CO and the CO observed Smith to be sweating profusely and having very wobbly balance. Smith and D. T. Were given UA tests and Smith tested positive for suboxone. Smith is not prescribed suboxone and denied any use. Smith submitted to a second UA, which also tested positive for suboxone. Smith has been in custody in the Clay County Jail since January 27, 2026. D. T. Tested positive for suboxone and is not prescribed suboxone.
D. T. Denied any use. D. T. Has been in custody in the Clay County Jail since February 17, 2026. Smith's person and cell were searched. A white colored powder residue was found on Smith's mattress. D. T.'s person and cell were searched. During the search of D. T.'s person, two pieces of paper fell from the pants/sock area. The CO who was conducting the search observed an orange/pinkish residue on both papers. One of the papers was rolled up and appeared to be an instrument used to snort a powder.
The rolled paper had an orange/pink residue on one end. The second paper was folded and appeared to have an orange/pinkish stain consistent with residue from a substance previously stored in it. No contraband was located in D. T.'s cell. D. T. Denied possessing any contraband and said the papers were score sheets he was keeping. The paper did not have any writing on it. D. T. Was provided with new clothes. A further search of the clothes D. T. Was wearing prior to the search yielded another rolled piece of paper inside one of the socks.
The paper contained an orange powder. This paper did contain writing. D. T. Was asked about the third paper that was found and he stated the substance was suboxone. D. T. Stated it came from an inmate who had been released. D. T. Did not know the name of the inmate but described him as a young, white male who was serving weekends. On March 11, 2026, E. B., an inmate at the Clay County Jail Wild Rice Unit, was in the process of being hired as a laundry trustee. E. B. Was informed that a UA test would be needed and E. B. Completed the test.
E. B. Tested positive for suboxone and reported he did not know why he would have tested positive. UA tests were provided to other inmates in the Wild Rice Unit with two other inmates testing positive for suboxone, one of those inmates did have a prescription for suboxone. Around this time, a CO found text messages between Smith and Jack Morris Halvorson ([DOB redacted])(hereinafter "Defendant"). Defendant was serving weekends at the Clay County Jail and matched the description provided by D. T. The text messages referenced "oranges", which is a common street term for suboxone.
