Bell Forestry Camp inmate, girlfriend charged with contraband

Published 3:28 pm Tuesday, September 24, 2019

A Bell Forestry Camp inmate and his girlfriend were both arrested for promoting contraband and various other charges after an incident Sunday at the camp.

According to the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, inmate Phil Matthew Caudill of Lexington made two separate phone calls on Saturday to his girlfriend and his mother. Both phone calls were recorded and included information in regard to the women bringing contraband to Caudill during their Sunday visit to the Forestry Camp.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. both Caudill’s girlfriend, Tiffany Marie Aldarawish, and his mother, Judy Carol Caudill, both from Lexington, arrived at the Forestry Camp for their visit with him.

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The Bell County Forestry states that upon their entry into the facility the women sat within the visitation area at a table with Caudill. The three were being closely observed through video surveillance by the facility.

During the course of the video surveillance, Aldarawish reached down near her left boot and retrieved some type of contraband and then reached across the table with her left hand and handed it to Caudill. Caudill then took the contraband and put it in his mouth ingesting it.

When Forestry Camp staff witnessed the transaction, staff then removed Caudill from visitation and placed him in solitary confinement under 24-hour surveillance.

Caudill’s girlfriend and mother remained under surveillance as they returned to their vehicle. Bell County Deputy Edward Dray responded to the Forestry Camp in regard to the contraband being taken into the facility. He approached the women and read them their rights and informed them of the reason he was speaking to them.

Dray asked about the incident and according to the press release from the sheriff’s department, the women stated they did not know what he was talking about.

Aldarawish was placed under arrest and Caudill was removed from the vehicle.

Dray then searched Aldarawish and the vehicle. A search of Aldarawish’s right boot revealed a tan capsule that is believed to be gabapentin wrapped with medical tape. A search of the vehicle revealed two capped syringes/needles. Caudill verbally consented a search of her person and no contraband was located.

Caudill was released and given control over the vehicle.

Tiffany Marie Aldarawish, 39, of Lexington, was transported to the Bell County Detention Center and charged with first-degree promoting contraband, tampering with physical evidence, third-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Monday, while still in solitary confinement, Bell County Forestry Camp staff retrieved nine orange round tablets believed to be buprenorphine from Phil Matthew Caudill. He was charged with first-degree promoting contraband and tampering with physical evidence.

He was then transported to the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex in West Liberty and additionally charged with second-degree possession controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.