Fresno County correctional officer arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs into jail

A juvenile correctional officer was arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs in a jail.

Robert Michael Lopez, 48, was taken into custody Wednesday morning from his home in Sanger.

Lopez was charged with a felony count of smuggling drugs in a jail, which is punishable up to three years in county jail.

Lopez, who has been with the county since 2006, is accused of trying to bring in drugs into the Juvenile Justice Campus, just off Highway 99 near American Avenue.

It was not immediately known how much and what kind of drugs Lopez is accused of smuggling.

Lopez was place on paid administrative leave, pending the investigation.

His bail was set at $5,000, which Lopez later posted and prompted his released.

This story was originally published August 2, 2023 at 5:37 PM.