Lewis County Jail inmate charged for allegedly hiding fentanyl 

A Lewis County Jail inmate was charged Monday for allegedly bringing a bag of fentanyl into the facility.

Louisa Jo Hoekstra, 40, of Ridgefield, is accused of smuggling fentanyl pills and fentanyl powder into the facility by placing it in a plastic bag and hiding it in her vaginal cavity, according to charging documents filed in Lewis County Superior Court.

A corrections deputy located the fentanyl while Hoekstra was being booked into the Lewis County Jail for an unrelated trip permit violation in Winlock at approximately 12:05 a.m. on Sept. 16.

When questioned by a Lewis County Sheriff’s Office deputy, Hoekstra allegedly said “she was given the bag of fentanyl powder and fentanyl pills by her friend” and, when stopped and given a warning for the permit violation, she allegedly “placed the bag of fentanyl in her vaginal cavity,” according to court documents. She was soon stopped by the Winlock Police Department, arrested for the permit violation and transported to the Lewis County Jail.

“Ms. Hoekstra stated she was not warned by the arresting agency regarding bringing drugs into the jail … (and) stated she forgot the bag was there,” according to charging documents.

The arresting Winlock Police Department officer told the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office that he specifically asked Hoeskstra if she had any drugs and advised her it was a felony to bring drugs to the Lewis County Jail. Hoeskstra allegedly “advised she did not have any (drugs),” according to the officer.

She was charged Sept. 16 in Lewis County Superior Court with one count of possession of a controlled substance while in a county or local correctional facility, which is a class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

Bail is set at $5,000.

Arraignment is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 19.