A former Worcester County correctional officer appeared in court Friday to face charges related to the smuggling of narcotics into a jail where he was employed. Nevin D. Robles, 32, pleaded not guilty in Clinton District Court to felony counts of delivering drugs to a prisoner and drug possession, as well as a misdemeanor charge of conspiring to violate drug law. He was released on $1,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court on December 17.

According to an investigation conducted by the sheriff’s office, Robles served as an intermediary in an August drug smuggling incident at the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction in West Boylston. On August 31, Robles allegedly picked up a package containing dissolvable strips of suboxone—a medication used to treat opioid dependence—and passed it to an inmate, Juan Centeno-Natal, in exchange for $1,500. Video surveillance captured Robles handing the package to Centeno-Natal, who was working in meal delivery at the time.

Robles was placed on administrative leave on September 13 and resigned the following day, according to Eric Eisner, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office. Robles had been employed by the department since late 2018. The sheriff’s office superintendent, Jason Rives, stated that the department takes contraband prevention seriously and responded promptly after evidence, including video and electronic surveillance, substantiated the smuggling allegations.

During a vehicle search on September 12, officers found a loaded firearm in Robles’s unlocked glove compartment. He also faces charges related to improper firearm storage and leaving a gun in a vehicle, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

Robles admitted to sheriff’s investigators that he concealed the package in the back pocket of his uniform pants. He explained that he had been approached multiple times during the summer by Centeno-Natal to bring in contraband and believed these items to be narcotics. Robles said he eventually agreed to assist. Days before the incident, he met with Mark L. Domenici, 50, who allegedly provided the package in Worcester’s Webster Square area.

Phone records show calls between Domenici and Robles on September 2 and 3. Robles initially denied knowing the contents but later acknowledged that the package likely contained suboxone. Robles stated that Domenici was also to receive $1,500 for supplying the drugs. Domenici has been charged with drug possession and conspiracy to violate drug law. His arraignment is set for November 3, though authorities have sought a warrant for his arrest, citing his failure to be located and concerns he may not appear for court.

Domenici, who has multiple prior drug-related arrests dating back to 2017, was sentenced to 30 days in the West Boylston jail in July after pleading guilty to several drug possession offenses.

The inmate, Centeno-Natal, reportedly faced internal sanctions but has not been charged with a crime tied to this incident. Records show he previously served nine months in the same facility in 2022 after a heroin distribution conviction.

Robles’s defense attorney declined to comment, and no attorney for Domenici has been identified.