A 59-year-old Los Angeles County deputy probation officer, Michael Solis, has been arrested and charged for allegedly smuggling controlled substances into a juvenile detention facility, authorities announced this week.
According to the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office, Solis conspired with a detained minor at Barry J. Nord Juvenile Hall in Sylmar to sell alprazolam, the generic form of Xanax, during 2023.
Assigned to the Sylmar facility as a probation officer, Solis reportedly smuggled the highly addictive benzodiazepine into the juvenile hall between May and August 2023. The detained juvenile then allegedly sold the pills inside the facility.
Benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, and Ativan are prescribed for seizures, insomnia, and anxiety disorders due to their sedative effects on the central nervous system. However, these drugs carry a high risk of physical and mental dependence, and are generally prescribed for short-term use.
District Attorney George Gascón condemned the act, stating, “Trafficking illegal drugs to juveniles is unconscionable under any circumstances, let alone as a government employee taking advantage of vulnerable youth in need of guidance and support.”
Solis faces four felony charges:
Conspiracy to possess and sell alprazolam
Conspiracy to bring a controlled substance into juvenile hall
Possession for sale of a designated controlled substance
Bringing a controlled substance into juvenile hall
If convicted, Solis could face up to three years in state prison.
