KYLE, Texas — The Kyle and San Marcos police departments arrested an 18-year-old man on Monday in connection with a minor's fatal fentanyl overdose.
The City of Kyle said Friday that Jubenal Flores Sanchez of Hays County was arrested Monday following an investigation involving the delivery of fentanyl and the death of a minor in Hays County. Sanchez was linked to the minor's death through the investigation of various social media accounts and other data, the City said.
Sanchez is charged with delivery of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony, and manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. When Sanchez was arrested, officers seized "a distributable quantity of counterfeit Percocet M-30 pills, as well as other narcotics," according to an arrest affidavit obtained by KVUE.
The District Attorney's Office will review the entire case and assess whether additional charges will be forthcoming, as a result of the fatal fentanyl overdose.
According to the affidavit, a 14-year-old girl died on Jan. 3, after multiple life-saving efforts were made by emergency personnel. The investigation revealed that the girl had a "history of narcotics use," including marijuana, THC, cocaine and Percocet. The minor had used the social media platforms Instagram and Snapchat "to purchase narcotics."
The girl had gone to the EVO Entertainment location in Hays County, where investigators believed she had gotten the fatal dose of fentanyl. The affidavit stated that investigators began searching her Instagram accounts to identify who she met up with. Messages were located between the girl and an individual with the account "johnpaulm4.0," who was later identified as Sanchez.
The conversations between Sanchez and the girl highlighted that she had previous conversations with him, making "it apparent that [the minor] had purchased narcotics from [Sanchez] multiple times prior," according to the affidavit.
Investigators acquired a court-ordered search warrant for the call detail records with the minor and Sanchez's cellphones on Feb. 8. These records show that on Jan. 2, they were both "utilizing the cellphone tower, nearest to EVO, during the time it was known that [the minor] was at EVO."
Sanchez later admitted to police that on Jan. 2, he "unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly delivered a controlled substance" to the minor.
Sanchez was later released on a $25,000 bond. Investigators said he could face more charges in the future.
Both the Kyle and San Marcos police departments have been investigating cases involving fentanyl and fentanyl-related overdoses. According to the City of Kyle, both departments work together in narcotics investigations in both cites and in in the surrounding area.
"Our community is safer due to the hard work and commitment our police officers and detectives are putting into investigating fentanyl cases," Kyle Police Chief Jeff Barnett said. "Their commitment to these types of investigations will continue as we all work together to keep our loved ones safe and stop the spread of this dangerously fatal drug."
With spring break coming up, Kyle Assistant Chief of Police Pedro Hernandez wants parents to have conversations with their kids on the dangers of taking these pills and other unknown substances.
"The parents should know what's on their teenagers' phone, they should know what social media applications they're using, they should be familiar with them, they should know what's in their teenagers' room, they should know what's in their teenagers' car," Hernandez said.
Last year, the City of Kyle saw 26 fentanyl overdoses leading to eight deaths, with four of those deaths being juveniles.
Anyone with information about this crime or other related crimes is encouraged to contact either the Kyle Police Department at 512-268-3232 or the San Marcos Police Department at 512-753-2108. you may also submit a tip anonymously to the Hays County Crime Stoppers online, by calling 1-800-324-TIPS (8477) or by using the P3 Tips app.