A corrections officer at the Ohio Reformatory for Women has been indicted for allegedly bringing a gun and dozens of rounds of ammunition onto the prison grounds.
The Union County grand jury has indicted Andre Vactor, 31, of Urbana. He is charged with one count of illegal conveyance of weapons onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility.
According to court documents on Feb. 5, Vactor was a corrections officer at the Ohio Reformatory for Women.
“Ohio Highway Patrol received a report from the prison concerning this individual on unrelated charges in another county,” County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said.
He explained that Vactor is facing domestic violence and child endangering charges in Champaign County. The prosecutor said that as part of that investigation, officials learned Vactor could be bringing a gun onto the prison property.
Phillips said that by entering onto prison property, “you give consent to search your vehicle or your person.”
When Vactor arrived for work, investigators searched his car.
“From his trunk, investigators found a Glock 19 with about 70 rounds of ammunition,” Phillips said.
He explained that prison officials are allowed to carry weapons if there is “a lawful purpose.”
Phillips said Vactor “had an explanation” but not necessarily a legally defensible reason for having the gun.
“Investigators from the Highway Patrol questioned whether he had a lawful purpose,” Phillips said.
Vactor was arrested and taken to Memorial Hospital for “an evaluation,” Phillips said, though he did not specify what type of evaluation.
Clara Golding-Kent, warden’s administrative assistant and public information officer at ORW, said Vactor is still employed by the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, “though he has not been to work since the date of the incident.”
Golding-Kent said Vactor has been using Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) time off since Feb. 5.
“There is an active investigation going on into the alleged allegations,” Golding-Kent said.
If convicted, Vactor could face as many as five years in prison. Additionally, prosecutors are asking to seize the handgun.
Golding-Kent confirmed Vactor was hired in November 2015. She said his personnel file is clear except for a possible warning about turning in paperwork in a timely manner.