CLEARFIELD – A DuBois man accused of stealing a controlled substance from the nurse’s station at the Clearfield County Jail pleaded guilty Monday in Clearfield County Court.
James M. Burnside, 32, was sentenced to 30 months to seven years in state prison for a burglary case and two years concurrent probation for theft and possession of contraband by Judge Fredric J. Ammerman.
Ammerman commented that he is “totally fed up with drugs at the jail.”
According to the affidavit of probable cause in the contraband case, Burnside removed several Suboxone pills intended for a pregnant inmate from the nurse’s station.
Video surveillance footage showed Burnside with a package the shape of the missing medication card under his shirt as he walked away from the station.
In an interview with police, Burnside said he retrieved the medication from the trash can and took it back to his cell where he used it. He also provided pills to other inmates in his cell block.
The burglary charges stem from an incident in Huston Township in October.
According to that affidavit, Burnside and his father, James E. Burnside, 53, were captured on surveillance video at the residence where a chainsaw and air compressor were taken.
James E. Burnside told police that his son wanted to stop at the residence that day to pick up some laundry.
A witness who had driven them to the home said she also thought James M. Burnside was putting dirty laundry in her trunk.
Later when she questioned James M. Burnside, he said that the family who owned the home told him he could borrow the items and claimed he was going to return them.
James E. Burnside is also facing burglary and related charges for the incident. His case is still pending.
