LANCASTER – A Buckeye Lake woman appeared in the Fairfield County Municipal Court Friday afternoon after she was arrested Friday morning by Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers for conveying dangerous drugs onto the grounds of the Southeastern Correctional Institution.

Troopers charged Samantha D. Payne, 39, with illegal conveyance onto the grounds of a correctional facility, a third-degree felony, and aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

Troopers and Department of Rehabilitation and Correction investigators obtained information that Payne planned to convey illegal drugs into the Southeastern Correctional Institution. Troopers arrested her at 9:20 a.m. Friday after a search revealed amounts of crystal methamphetamines in her vehicle.

Payne was incarcerated at the Fairfield County Jail. If convicted, she could face up to six years in prison and a $12,500 fine.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol investigates criminal activity on state owned and/or leased property.

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