LA Deputy Indicted in Heroin Burrito Smuggle

A sheriff's deputy accused of trying to smuggle drugs behind bars is also notable because of his appearance in the reality show, "The Academy."

A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy, who washed out of the hit reality TV series “The Academy,” has been indicted in a 2010 jail drug smuggling case after he allegedly tried to sneak a burrito with a syringe containing heroin into the county lockup.

Court Documents: Read the Indictment

Henry Marin, 27, was indicted by a county grand jury on two felony counts that include bringing drugs into a jail and conspiracy, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Marin is accused in a conspiracy that began Jan. 27, 2010. He allegedly tried to smuggle a heroin-laden burrito on Feb. 23, 2010 into the Airport Branch Courthouse “for Alvarez,” according to the indictment.

An arrest warrant was issued and Marin surrendered to deputies on Wednesday. He was relieved of duty and booked into the county jail. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at an arraignment this week and was expected in court again on Feb. 16. He was free on $25,000 bail.

Through a secretary, Marin’s attorney, Alfonso Estrada, declined to comment.

Marin was part of recruit Class 355 in the Fox reality TV show, “The Academy,” which takes viewers behind-the-scenes of an 18-week training course at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Academy. During Day 1 Orientation, Marin was caught dozing off and a drill instructor commented that if Marin couldn't keep his act together on the first day, he wouldn’t have the discipline to work in law enforcement.

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Marin washed out of the class after failing a test on role scenarios. He was one of the 24 recruits in the class of 111 who washed out.

Marin was allowed to re-enroll and successfully completed the academy, said Sheriff’s Deputy Guillermina Saldana, a spokeswoman. Marin was hired by the department in 2006 and was assigned to the Court Services Division at the time of the alleged drug smuggling incident, officials said.

The smuggling case is one of several reported inside the county jail system in recent years, officials said. Three sheriff's deputies were convicted and a fourth was fired for smuggling or attempting to smuggle drugs to inmates, officials said.

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