Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
DAVENPORT – A Brewster woman was set to be arraigned in Lincoln County Superior Court Tuesday, Feb. 25, after a bag of suspected narcotics was removed from her person while in police custody.
Kira Esmerelda Oregon Hernandez, 23, of Brewster, was charged with possession of a controlled substance in a correctional facility following her arrest earlier this month.
Oregon Hernandez was not present for her arraignment hearing on the day.
Lincoln County Superior Court Judge Adam Walser ordered a Warrant for her arrest with a $5,000 bond.
Hernandez was transported to the Lincoln County Jail on January 3 after Washington State Patrol (WSP) discovered she had an active warrant while responding to a collision on State Route 190.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office deputies took custody of Hernandez from WSP Trooper Romaneschi in Harrington at approximately 9:24 p.m.
Before transport, Trooper Romaneschi informed deputies that Hernandez had removed a dime-sized bag of suspected narcotics from her person while in custody.
A deputy then searched Hernandez and repeatedly advised her that bringing drugs into a correctional facility would result in additional charges.
She denied possessing any further contraband.
According to court records, during the drive to the jail, Hernandez admitted to having a “drug problem,” stating her addiction began with prescription pain medication for a back injury before progressing to heroin and fentanyl.
She allegedly claimed she had attempted rehabilitation multiple times but was unsuccessful. She also reportedly admitted to hiding her drug use from her husband.
Despite being given multiple opportunities to disclose any narcotics, Hernandez insisted she did not have any additional drugs on her person.
Court records show that upon arrival at the jail, corrections officers conducted a search and discovered a small black container with a yellow bee on top, which fell from her chest area.
The container held a white, crystal-like substance consistent with powdered fentanyl. Additionally, officers found a small piece of unused aluminum foil in her waistband, suspected to be drug paraphernalia.
The suspected drugs and paraphernalia were collected as evidence, and a report was forwarded to Trooper Romaneschi for further investigation.
Hernandez was formally charged in Lincoln County Superior Court and remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.
Olivia Harnack is the award-winning managing editor/photographer/videographer/columnist at the Lincoln County Record-Times, with offices in both Davenport and Odessa, Wash. She is a University of Idaho graduate and a U.S. Army National Guardsman.
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