TEXAS – Three people have been arrested for allegedly blowing fentanyl smoke in the face of a 19-day-old baby in an attempt to pacify her cries over several days in a Texas hotel.
Robert Mason, 33, and Jennifer Trevino, 32, were identified as the parents of the child. The pair along with Aracely Rocha, 22, are now facing felony charges of child abandonment and endangerment, according to the Taylor County sheriff’s office.
Law enforcement authorities also made the chilling discovery of 56 fentanyl pills in their vehicle last Thursday – with some strewn within a newborn baby’s diaper bag.
Mason, Trevino, Rocha, along with a fourth adult and four children, lived in two adjoining rooms at the Frontier Inn & Suites in Abilene, as detailed in an arrest affidavit.
During a search of their hotel rooms, the cloud of smoke was so thick that officers had to put on breathing masks, abc7 reported.
How Evidences Were Found
The trio were initially pulled over by agents for allegedly littering in front of the hotel on January 25.
Upon searching their vehicle, officers found four adults, a two-week-old infant, Fentanyl pills along with burnt foils, smoking pipes and straws used for smoking and according to the arrest record.
Agents later searched their hotel rooms filled with fentanyl smoke and recently burned foil.
The three suspects intentionally blew smoke of fentanyl into the face of the newborn baby to stop her crying, the affidavit alleges.
The Baby was Dying
The infant was having difficulty breathing when she was found by officers.
What Court Ruling Says
‘Interviews revealed three of the four adults were actively involved in smoking fentanyl in the presence of the children for at least the last two days,’ the affidavit reads.
‘Interviews also revealed the adults had knowledge of at least one of the adults blowing fentanyl smoke into the face of the infant to get the child to stop crying.’
Authorities also allege that the fourth person was aware of the other three suspects smoking fentanyl in the presence of four children but took no action to prevent it.
‘The fourth adult did nothing to prevent or stop the children from being exposed to the fentanyl smoke filled the environment’.
How the Baby was Saved
The two-week-old baby was rushed to the emergency room at Hendrick Medical Center, where the other three children were also examined.
Charges Against Them
Mason, Trevino, Rocha were each charged with four counts of second-degree child abandonment and endangerment.
Rocha was also charged with possession of fentanyl and possession of amphetamine, according to the affidavit. Mason is facing an additional charge of obstruction/retaliation.
They were arrested and booked into the Taylor County Jail on bonds totaling over $100,000 each.
