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DAVID MACE
David Mace (Merced County Sheriff’s Office)

EL NIDO –

A correctional cook was arrested for smuggling contraband into a correctional facility in Merced County.

According to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, David Louis Mace, 57, of Chowchilla, brought in contraband to the John Latarroca Correctional Center for several months.

A two-month investigation by the Merced County Sheriff Supervised Release Team revealed Mace, who currently works as a correctional cook and has been employed by the County of Merced since 2002, brought marijuana, tobacco and cell phones into the facility.

About a half pound of marijuana and tobacco was found in search of the kitchen at the facility.

Mace was arrested at his house in Chowchilla Thursday around 3 p.m. He was booked into Merced County Jail for bringing controlled substances in a correctional facility and allowing inmates to use controlled substances. Mace is being held on a $100,000 bail.

Ruben Dominguez filed this report.