Couple accused of smuggling drugs into Westmoreland prison

A husband and wife are accused of smuggling drugs into the Westmoreland County Prison by concealing them in a suit jacket needed for a court appearance, according to police.

Westmoreland County detectives detailed in court papers numerous conversations John Joseph Kukonik, 35, had with Olivia A. Weber, 46, while he was being held at the jail in which he instructed her to hide Suboxone strips in clothing she dropped off for him. Suboxone can be used to treat an opioid dependence.

Weber was arrested Friday and Kukonik was arraigned Monday on charges of contraband and drug possession. Weber’s bail was set at $50,000 and Kukonik’s at $75,000. The Irwin couple was being held at the Hempfield lockup.

After getting reports that Kukonik brought Suboxone into the jail May 31, officials reviewed surveillance video of him that morning in a holding cell. Authorities said he is seen using a pencil to poke a hole in the sleeve of the suit jacket he was wearing while waiting to be taken to the courthouse for a nonjury trial. Weber had dropped the jacket off at the jail days earlier.

Kukonik is seen on the video taking two orange objects out of the sleeve and eating them, according to court papers. Seven inmates who were present in holding cells and on Kukonik’s housing unit tested positive for Suboxone that day.

During jailhouse calls, the pair repeatedly talked in code about hiding the drugs in clothing for Kukonik to wear for a court appearance and Weber getting paid for her role.

Neither suspect had an attorney listed in the case. Preliminary hearings are set for Aug. 20.

During that May 31 nonjury trial, Kukonik was found guilty of a flight to avoid apprehension charge stemming from a Dec. 13 incident in Irwin in which he hid from Westmoreland County sheriff’s deputies who were attempting to serve him with a warrant, according to court records. He’s been at the jail since then. Sentencing is set for Aug. 22.

Weber was charged in connection with the Dec. 13 incident with hindering apprehension for telling sheriff’s deputies Kukonik was at a drug detox facility when he was hiding in an upstairs bedroom, according to court papers. She was sentenced to one year of probation in April.