By Travis Uresk
2/10/25
| Neola, Ut. |Â February 7th, 2025 |
Last Friday, detectives and deputies with the Duchesne County Sheriff's Office, as well as agents from AP&P, served a search warrant on the property located at 1079 West 9000 North in Neola, Utah, which is owned and occupied by the Montes family.
The search warrant was in relation to a case that involved child endangerment where a 1-year-old almost died from a Fentanyl overdose. The case involved a 14-month-old child named Stetson, who lived in the home and is related to the Montes family.
Stetson overdosed on Fentanyl Sunday, January 26, 2025, and stopped breathing for a substantial amount of time. Stetson had to be placed on a Narcan drip before being life-flighted to Primary Children's Hospital in Lehi, Utah.
Individuals verified to be living in the residence and present when Stetson overdosed were 63-year-old Thomas David Montes, 20-year-old Chance Leo Montes, 44-year-old Esperanzza Alberta Montes, 21-year-old Tamra Colonna, 46-year-old Marcelino Junior Montes, and Louissa Post.
During the execution of the warrant, officers entered the home and detained Thomas, Chance, Tamra, and Marcellino Montes. Marcellino had recently been released from jail after the overdose occurred and was on probation at the time of warrant execution.
Marcellino was found to be in possession of paraphernalia with fentanyl residue on it, which violated his probation, and he was placed into custody. Thomas was also placed into custody for the charge of child endangerment.
While the search was ongoing, Detective Hunter asked Thomas where Esperanzza and Louissa were. Thomas informed the detective that they were at an individual's house in Whiterocks, and Esperanzza wouldn't come there because she had warrants. When the detective asked when he had seen Thomas, he stated that he saw them at the house in Whiterocks on 2/6/25 and knew they were still there.
Shortly after Detective Hunter spoke with Thomas, Sgt Meeks exited the residence and stated they had found Esperannza inside Chance and Tamra's bedroom hiding under a large pile of blankets and pillows.
When Esperannza was searched, a baggie of a white powdery crystal substance consistent with methamphetamine was found inside her pants pocket, and inside one of her shoes was a baggie containing Fentanyl pills.
Officers continued to search the residence and vehicles on the property, and inside Chance and Tamra's room, officers located a large amount of fentanyl pills, Marijuana, suboxone, and paraphernalia. Inside a purse in the living room verified to belong to Esperanzza, officers located a prescription for bupropion that was prescribed to Marcellino. Paraphernalia was also located inside Esperanzza's purse.
Inside Marcellino's bedroom, officers located paraphernalia with burnt Fentanyl residue on it, as well as other types of paraphernalia. When officers searched the vehicles outside, which were all unlocked and available to all the residents of the home, they located a large amount of fentanyl pills, a 7mm rifle, and various types of ammunition.
Also, located throughout the residence, officers located various rounds of ammunition, large knives, crossbows, and a taser. Thomas, Marcellino, Esperanzza, and Louissa are convicted felons and cannot be around weapons.
In total, 1660 Fentanyl pills with a street value estimated at around $20,000.00, 18 grams of Marijuana, 1 gram of methamphetamine, suboxone, paraphernalia, 1 firearm, several rounds of ammunition, a taser, and $700.00 dollars in cash were seized during the execution of the warrant. Esperannza was also found to have five active statewide warrants for her arrest.
Thomas, Marcellino, Esperanzza, Chance, and Tamra were all transported to the Duchesne County Jail without incident and booked on the charges listed in their individual probable cause statements. When Marcellino was taken into jail, he was found to be in possession of suboxone.
Thomas and Esperanzza were also taken to the Uintah Basin Medical Center, where they obtained medical clearances before being transported to the jail.
An arrest warrant will be prepared for Louissa Post due to the fact she fled to tribal jurisdiction after the overdose incident.
All of them are being held without bail.
Related Article: Police put out an arrest warrant for a female whose 1-year-old infant almost dies from a Fentanyl overdose
