Not guilty of trafficking at penitentiary: St. John's guard

A prison guard has pleaded not guilty to bringing drugs into Her Majesty's Penitentiary in St. John's.

Edward Taylor, 32, of St. John's, is charged with four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The drugs he's accused of trafficking are cannabis, morphine, oxycodone, and ecstasy.

Taylor is also charged with a breach of trust because of his position at the penitentiary.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges at a court appearance in St. John's on May 2.

Taylor was arrested in late February, 2010 following a police search of the prison in late February.

A release from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary in February, 2010 said police seized a quantity of narcotics, marijuana and other contraband during the search that was related to an ongoing investigation dubbed Operation Safeguard.

Police said the investigation involving the RNC's criminal intelligence and drug and forensic identification units was in connection with the trafficking of drugs and contraband inside the prison.

Taylor's trial is scheduled to begin in September.