El Paso County sheriff’s deputies have found a way to let the suspects come to them.On Sunday, during visiting hours about 4:15 p.m., a 25-year-old woman went to see a friend who’s an inmate at the Criminal Justice Center.Carrie Boggs soon was handcuffed and headed for jail for failing to appear in court last November on a third-degree assault charge.Boggs was a victim of a strategy the Sheriff’s Office has used for several years.Jail workers run names of inmates’ visitors through databases of outstanding warrants. They know ahead of time who’s coming, because visitors must sign in in advance for a specific time.Visitation takes place via video monitor in a small building north of the jail. When a visitor who’s wanted for some reason shows up, “We call the intake folks and they’ll come get them,” said sheriff’s Lt. Lari Sevene.”It’s relatively successful,” she said.Two were nabbed on Saturday as well as Boggs on Sunday, security technician Greg Oldham said.”Obviously, just because one party is in custody doesn’t mean they don’t have associates on the outside that are wanted for various reasons,” Sevene said.There’s plenty of opportunity, because the jail has visiting hours every day.Another ploy: Officers make a habit of cruising the parking lot where they say they’ve found stolen vehicles.”Bad habits are hard to break,” Sevene said. “Or they’re not very cautious in what they do. I don’t know what causes them to think that’s a good plan, but sometimes it works in our favor.”Sevene said Boggs was expected to post the $1,000 bond to be released Sunday night.”She said she didn’t know she had a warrant,” Sevene said. “But when you’re in the court process and you don’t follow up, that’s what happens.”Call the writer at 636-0238.

Helen Michels (center) chats with her son, Lance Michels, and Lynn McDonough (far right) over tea on Mother’s Day. They were atending a high tea in honor of Mother’s Day at the Miramont Castle on Sunday, May 10, 2009. (In the foreground at another table i Photo by JERILEE BENNETT,THE GAZETTE

Jerilee Bennett