Prison Officer Adam Gartside, 41, learns fate for months of smuggling contraband into Mount Gambier Prison
A Mount Gambier Prison Officer has learned his fate after conspiring with prisoners and a co-offender to sneak in tobacco and illicit drugs inside their underwear.
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A Mount Gambier Prison officer has been spared jail after being paid to aid in sneaking thousands of dollars worth of tobacco and attempting to sneak illicit drugs into his prison.
On Tuesday, December 17, Adam Ronald Keith Gartside appeared in the District Court before Judge Liesl Kudelka to learn his fate during a sentencing Her Honour said she “agonised” over.
Gartside, 41, pleaded guilty to two counts of abusing public office after aiding prisoners and a co-offender to smuggle in tobacco worth up to $5000 and attempt to sneak in 100 Suboxone strips.
On August 11, 2021, Gartside and his co-offender were in his car discussing an arranged deal with a prisoner to supply 100 strips of Buprenorphine for $10,000.
The 41-year-old explained how he had offered to bring in something to a Mount Gambier prisoner to “help” with a “TV” and had offered the deal.
Gartside’s co-offender said he had sourced 150 strips and he had “wrapped them all up and has had them in his jocks since then.”
The Suboxone did not enter the jail.
The court heard a prisoner in Mount Gambier contacted his mother on July 8 and 9, 2021 to tell her Gartside would contact her to arrange for a money transfer that he explained would not leave a “paper trail”.
The money – $4000 made in separate payments – was used to purchase tobacco and delivered in at least five pouches to the prisoner.
Both offences were recorded on tracking, optical and listening devices deployed in May 2021.
The court heard Gartside had previously supplied other pouches of tobacco to prisoners for $2500 collectively – but was not criminally charged for those.
A psychological report described how Gartside suffered from a major depressive disorder at a “severe level” linked to work-related stressors as a prison officer of eight years and his ex-wife’s significant health issues.
The report states his mental health issues impacted Gartside’s ability to regulate emotions, control impulses and make decisions.
Judge Kudelka said during sentencing she had “agonised” to construct a sentence that captured the “seriousness” of his “breach of trust” but also his personal circumstances.
“I can’t tell you how much I agonised over this sentence … Anyone who thinks that judges don’t agonise over sentences is quite wrong,” Her Honour said.
“You were right at the edge of that cliff … We can’t have prison officers doing what you did.”
Judge Kudelka sentenced Gartside to two years, one month and 20 days imprisonment, with one year, two months to be served as non parole.
Her Honour found good reason for Gartside to serve the sentence on home detention due to his prior good character, role as full-time carer for his father and 14-year-old son, strong work ethic and his low risk of reoffending.
The prisoner’s mother is not accused of any wrongdoing.
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Originally published as Prison Officer Adam Gartside, 41, learns fate for months of smuggling contraband into Mount Gambier Prison
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