New Castle – Late Friday evening an investigation culminated in the arrest of a New Castle woman when she turned herself in at the Henry County Jail on a warrant. The warrant was a result of an Indiana State Police investigation into allegations she was trafficking with inmates at the New Castle Correctional Facility.

Arrested was Roberta Ashburn, age 44, of New Castle for Class “C” Felony Trafficking with an Inmate. Her bond was set at $7,500. The investigation was started in early January when prison internal affairs contacted the Pendleton Post requesting an investigation.

Prison internal affairs investigators had developed information that Ashburn, an Aramark employee, had brought in tobacco and a cell phone to an inmate. Aramark is a private company that provides food service at the New Castle Correctional Facility.

In January, Richard Rice, a former GEO employee at the prison, was also arrested for Trafficking with an Inmate, as well as Possession of Heroin and Marijuana when he attempted to bring articles into the prison. This case was also a result of state police investigators working closely with internal affairs officers at the prison.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.