Charges were filed this week in 8th District Court in an arrest that took place last fall. According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, 43-year-old Esparanza Valdez was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over in Duchesne County on North Crescent Road. Initially, Valdez provided a false name but the officer could see she did not match the person that came up in the database. She was given another chance to provide her name and it was found that Valdez had a statewide warrant out for her arrest.
A search of the vehicle located a black backpack belonging to Valdez that contained drug paraphernalia and fentanyl. After being booked into the Duchesne County Jail, a small blue M30 pill fell out of her jacket consistent with fentanyl. Her purse was also found to contain methamphetamine.
Valdez had at least 2 prior felony drug convictions within the last 7 years at the time of this arrest. Her charges from this incident include 2 counts of 2nd Degree Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance and 1 count of Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
