Johnston Correctional Officer Faces Drug Charges

Written by Mark Schieldrop

A prison guard on leave from his job at the Adult Correctional Institutions since June has been charged with three counts of delivery of a controlled substance to a police officer, the State Police announced on Oct. 3.

James Petrella, 49, of 28 Tara St., Johnston, is a correctional officer who was working at the Maximum Security facility until June when he was placed on sick leave due to a work-related injury.

Police said Petrella sold Oxycodone and Clonazepam to an undercover officer on three separate occasions in September. 

The undercover buys were arranged after State Police Intelligence Unit detectives launched an investigation into Petrella's alleged distribution of controlled substances.

Along with the arrest, State Police officers executed a search warrant at Petrella's house and found four firearms and "an assortment of prescription medications."

Petrella was arraigned at Kent County District Court before Judge William C. Clifton and entered no plea to the charges — customary for felony arraignments. Bail was set at $20,000 with surety, and he is being held at the ACI after he was unable to post bail, police said.

He is next due in court on Nov. 4.