According to police reports, three individuals have been charged with attempting to smuggle marijuana into the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield during visiting hours. The incident occurred on April 26, 2026, when the Vermont Department of Corrections alerted authorities about a suspicious item.
Police say that Grace Cookson, 73, of Cabot, and Daniel A. Abbott Sr., 52, also from Cabot, were attempting to deliver the contraband to Daniel A. Abbott Jr., a 33-year-old inmate. Cookson faces charges of Transportation of Contraband into a Place of Detention and False Reports to Law Enforcement Authorities. Meanwhile, both Abbott Sr. and Abbott Jr. were charged with Transportation of Contraband into a Place of Detention; Abbott Jr. also faces a charge of Possession of Cannabis.
The three individuals are scheduled to appear in White River Junction Criminal Court on June 2, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. Abbott Jr. remains incarcerated on unrelated charges, and no bail has been sought for the new offenses. As always, the charges are allegations, and court dates may change as the case progresses.
Source: Vermont State Police
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All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges and court dates are subject to change. Reporting is based on information from law enforcement and public records, and will be updated as more details become available.
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