Pubdate: Sun, 09 Jan 2000 Source: Santa Barbara News-Press (CA) Copyright: 2000 Santa Barbara News-Press Contact: http://www.newspress.com/ Author: News-Press Staff Report OFFICER SUSPECTED IN SMUGGLING A correctional officer at the U.S. Penitentiary in Lompoc was arrested Saturday on suspicion of accepting cash in exchange for smuggling marijuana into the prison. John Scott Brooks, 28, was booked into the County Jail after an investigation that began in October, according to FBI officials. The Lompoc man could face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine if convicted of accepting a bribe and attempting to introduce contraband into a federal penal facility, officials said. The investigation was conducted by the Santa Maria office of the FBI and the Santa Barbara Regional Narcotic Enforcement Team, with assistance from penitentiary investigators. Brooks was arrested in Santa Maria by officers from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department, the Santa Maria Police Department and the California Highway Patrol. Brooks will be scheduled to make an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Willard W. McEwen Jr. in Santa Barbara. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D