Police: Drug needles within reach of child

Two people were jailed Thursday after police allegedly found paraphernalia commonly used for heroin within reach of a 1-year-old child in a filthy Roop Street apartment.

Millisa Kephart, 18, of Silver Springs, and Scott Crandall, 28, of Carson City, were each arrested on suspicion of gross misdemeanor child endangerment, nine counts of misdemeanor possession of hypodermic needles, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the arrest report, Carson City deputies escorted an Alternative Sentencing officer to 655 Roop St. No. 81 with a warrant for Crandall's arrest. Crandall was on supervision with Alternative Sentencing for a drunken driving charge and was subject to search and seizure as a condition of his probation.

Once there, Deputy Sal Acosta allegedly discovered several hypodermic needles in a bag in the bathroom and a red balloon commonly used to hold heroin. Acosta also wrote in his report that he found a needle on the floor next to a bed, and within feet of a playpen in which Kephart's 1-year-old child was standing. A burnt spoon and cotton were found in the bathroom sink, according to the report.

Acosta said the floor of the apartment was cluttered with televisions and computer equipment and that several bowls of moldy food were in the kitchen.

"The child's playpen had a moist and stinky blanket that gave a strong odor of urine," Acosta stated.

Acosta said both Kephart and Crandall admitted to shooting heroin earlier that day. According to the report, Kephart's arms were marked with needle tracks and she tested positive for heroin, cocaine and marijuana. A search of her vehicle allegedly uncovered a needle cap and a white balloon commonly used to hold cocaine, the report states.

Child-protective services took the toddler into custody, and both Kephart and Crandall were booked into the Carson City Jail.

Bail for each is set at $13,820.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.