ANDERSON — A former Pendleton prison guard was sentenced on Monday to 36 months of suspended probation for helping inmates smuggle tobacco, cell phones and marijuana into the Pendleton Correctional Facility, court officials said.

He was facing four years in prison.

Madison Superior Court 3 Judge Thomas Newman sentenced 37-year-old Tommy Turner of Muncie on Monday, after Turner was convicted of official misconduct and misdemeanor trafficking with an inmate.

Turner had originally faced an additional felony charge of trafficking with an inmate but the charge was dismissed as part of Turner’s plea deal, according to court documents. The felony charge was punishable by two to eight years in prison.

Turner pleaded guilty in April to helping inmates smuggle tobacco, marijuana and cell phones into the prison in wheelchairs.

Smugglers stuffed contraband into the backs and seat of the wheelchairs, which were brought into the prison to be refurbished by inmates, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The smuggling operation was discovered in November 2006.

Detective Bob May of the Indiana State Police said about four wheelchairs were used in the operation but he did not disclose the amount of contraband believed to have entered the prison.

Turner told ISP investigators he received $500 from an inmate for taking part in the operation and only agreed to help smuggle tobacco.

Turner denied having knowledge that cell phones and marijuana were also being smuggled, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Contact Brandi Watters: 640-4847, brandi.watters@ heraldbulletin.com