JANESVILLE鈥 A woman from Beloit faces a felony charge after she was seen trying to deliver tobacco to an inmate at the Rock County Jail by throwing it in a blue latex glove near the jail鈥檚 trash compactor.
According to a criminal complaint, Kinzie Steube is charged with delivering drugs to inmates, party to a crime.
The Rock County Sheriff鈥檚 Office said it spotted the illicit glove toss Aug. 21 after jail staff reported that a black SUV had arrived on the south side of the jail around 5:09 p.m. and the passenger threw a blue latex glove from the SUV toward the trash compactor area.
Deputy Hathorn reviewed jail surveillance footage and reported seeing a black Mazda pull a U-turn near the jail parking lot. The passenger then reached through the passenger-side window and threw an item appearing to be a blue latex glove toward the trash compactor.
About 45 minutes later, an inmate was seen leaving the jail, jogging over to the glove and then concealing it before a correctional officer came outside.
During a jail search later that evening, officers shook down inmate cells and found tobacco rolled up in a blue latex glove in the inmate鈥檚 cell. The inmate told officers he had taken the tobacco from near the trash compactor but did not know who had put it there.
Investigators later connected the Mazda to Steube, who was identified as the vehicle鈥檚 registered owner.
A police detective reviewed recorded jail calls involving Steube and another inmate. In a call around 4:45 p.m. Aug. 19, Steube allegedly referenced needing to get things from Kwik Trip, having the 鈥渕ain stuff鈥 and needing to go to the back to 鈥済et rid of it.鈥
In another call around 5:01 p.m., Steube said she was at Kwik Trip and discussed two items, including asking if the inmate wanted the 鈥渓ight blue or the dark blue.鈥
The inmate told Steube in a text to 鈥渢hrow it more toward the railing,鈥 The two discussed how to package the tobacco.
Investigators say Kwik Trip surveillance footage from Aug. 19 showed Steube and another person enter the store.
She told investigators that Steube drove to the jail and instructed her to throw the glove, which she did.
During transport to the jail following her arrest, Steube made statements expressing disbelief about being taken to jail over 鈥渟ome stupid tobacco.鈥
Court records also show Steube is charged in a separate 2024 Rock County Circuit Court case on one count of felony drug possession.
According to the complaint, she was released on bond with conditions prosecutors say she violated by tossing a glove full of tobacco near the jail.