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Friend Releases Manson's Cell Phone Rant From Prison

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Cell phones are being smuggled into prisons across California, and convicted killer Charles Manson even found a way to obtain one.

Guards say they found a cell phone under Manson's mattress at Corcoran State Prison.

Last year, a friend recorded one of Manson's bizarre calls.

Records show that he made calls and send text messages to people in California, New Jersey, Florida and British Columbia.

Prison authorities say it's unclear if he tried to get anyone to commit a crime.

The prison system will block all calls from unauthorized phones in 2011. While cell phones are considered contraband behind bars, it's not illegal for inmates to have them.

In September, Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have imposed a $5,000 fine on anyone caught giving a phone to an inmate.

(©2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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