Inmate’s girlfriend delivers kiss of death

Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore.

An Oregon woman whose inmate boyfriend died from a meth-laden kiss after a prison visit was sentenced to two years behind bars Tuesday on a drug conspiracy charge.

Melissa Ann Blair and Anthony Powell shared a long kiss at the end of a visit last year at the Oregon State Penitentiary and she passed seven tiny balloons filled with methamphetamine into his mouth. Two of the balloons ruptured in Powell’s stomach a short time later and he died of methamphetamine toxicity, prosecutors have said.

U.S. District Judge Marco Hernandez said Blair’s actions were part of a scheme devised by Powell and others to get drugs inside the prison. There was a dispute as to whether Blair participated of her own free will, but Powell shared responsibility for his own death, Hernandez said.

The 41-year-old was serving a life sentence for aggravated murder in the stabbing death of his mother-in-law, according to court records.

Besides two years in federal prison, the judge also ordered Blair, 46, to complete three years of post-release supervision and participate in drug treatment and mental health programs.

She did not make a statement in court. Her sister, who attended the hearing, declined to comment.

Blair felt coerced by Powell even though he was behind bars, her attorney, John Ransom, said outside court. She used methamphetamine but was not addicted, he said.

“It was a very Svengali-type situation where he had total control over her life,” Ransom said. “She had to do whatever he said.”

Powell’s close friend, Brandy Pokovich, attended the hearing and said she became pen pals with him after he wrote to her husband – a former inmate – and she replied to him instead. Over a dozen years, Pokovich said, they formed a deep bond through letters, phone calls and visits.